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拍品專文
Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution, remains as one of the most notable figures of 18th century European royalty. Among the many symbols of her lavish lifestyle, her collection of jewels has captured the fascination of historians, collectors, and admirers for centuries. These gems were not only adornments, but emblems of her status and aesthetic taste.
Born an Austrian archduchess in 1755, Marie Antoinette married Louis-Auguste, the future Louis XVI of France at the age of fourteen to reinforce the alliance between Austria and France. Plunged into the opulent world of the French court at Versailles, she became queen in 1774 and quickly gained a reputation for extravagance. Her love for fashion, design and jewelry was both a reflection of courtly traditions and a personal indulgence. As queen, she had access to the crown jewels of France, but she also commissioned new pieces to suit her own taste, crafted by the best Parisian jewelers.
Marie Antoinette had an exceptional eye for beauty and fascination with rare stones. Her collection was filled with pearls, diamonds, and colored gemstones from around the world; each one carefully chosen not just for its value, but for its elegance, and uniqueness. These pieces showcased not only her wealth but also the artistic excellence of the time.
Just before her dramatic escape attempt from Paris, the infamous Flight to Varennes, Queen Marie Antoinette gathered her most precious jewels and entrusted them not to a guard or noble, but to her trusted coiffeur, hoping that one day, she would be reunited…but history had other plans.
Following the fall of the monarchy and the tragic demise of the royal family, the jewels were entrusted to their sole surviving heir, Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Angoulême. With no heirs of her own, she passed the legacy to her niece, Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Chambord. And then, years later, a note in a will revealed the diamond’s owner: Queen Marie Theresa of Bavaria with the jewel described as “a pink solitaire diamond from Aunt Chambord.”
The kite-shaped fancy purple pink diamond weighing 10.38 carats dates back to the mid-18th century, and should most likely also be of Golconda origin, one of the most prized origins in the world revered for their outstanding gemological qualities. While an exact record has not yet been found, this 10.38 carat diamond may have been part of Marie Antoinette's original inventory before passing through the hands of her direct descendants.
Currently mounted in an elegant setting fit for a queen by Parisian jeweler, JAR, the Marie-Thérèse diamond is also accompanied by a velvet case revealing a hairpin mounting bearing a faded Austrian Imperial Warrant, likely commissioned by Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Chambord in 1868. This lot not merely a jewel, but a tangible treasure of royal history.
Born an Austrian archduchess in 1755, Marie Antoinette married Louis-Auguste, the future Louis XVI of France at the age of fourteen to reinforce the alliance between Austria and France. Plunged into the opulent world of the French court at Versailles, she became queen in 1774 and quickly gained a reputation for extravagance. Her love for fashion, design and jewelry was both a reflection of courtly traditions and a personal indulgence. As queen, she had access to the crown jewels of France, but she also commissioned new pieces to suit her own taste, crafted by the best Parisian jewelers.
Marie Antoinette had an exceptional eye for beauty and fascination with rare stones. Her collection was filled with pearls, diamonds, and colored gemstones from around the world; each one carefully chosen not just for its value, but for its elegance, and uniqueness. These pieces showcased not only her wealth but also the artistic excellence of the time.
Just before her dramatic escape attempt from Paris, the infamous Flight to Varennes, Queen Marie Antoinette gathered her most precious jewels and entrusted them not to a guard or noble, but to her trusted coiffeur, hoping that one day, she would be reunited…but history had other plans.
Following the fall of the monarchy and the tragic demise of the royal family, the jewels were entrusted to their sole surviving heir, Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Angoulême. With no heirs of her own, she passed the legacy to her niece, Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Chambord. And then, years later, a note in a will revealed the diamond’s owner: Queen Marie Theresa of Bavaria with the jewel described as “a pink solitaire diamond from Aunt Chambord.”
The kite-shaped fancy purple pink diamond weighing 10.38 carats dates back to the mid-18th century, and should most likely also be of Golconda origin, one of the most prized origins in the world revered for their outstanding gemological qualities. While an exact record has not yet been found, this 10.38 carat diamond may have been part of Marie Antoinette's original inventory before passing through the hands of her direct descendants.
Currently mounted in an elegant setting fit for a queen by Parisian jeweler, JAR, the Marie-Thérèse diamond is also accompanied by a velvet case revealing a hairpin mounting bearing a faded Austrian Imperial Warrant, likely commissioned by Duchess Marie-Thérèse de Chambord in 1868. This lot not merely a jewel, but a tangible treasure of royal history.