These natural pearl ear pendants are remarkable on account of their size, the pearls weighing approximately 196 and 186 grains. The only other comparable pair to have been offered at auction is the Mancini pearls, which were sold at Christie's Geneva in 1969. The pearls were part of the famous collection of jewels that were given by Louis XIV to Maria Mancini (1639-1715), a niece of Cardinal Mazarin.