Mit einem Totalerlöse von 3 470 000 Francs endete die spektakuläre
Versteigerung in Lausanne, der in Vevey verstorbenen Prinzessin Vera
Lobanow de Rostow, geborene Prinzessin Dolgorouky.
In seinen Memoiren, schreibt Fürst Felix später über diese Juwelen
als ....eines schöner als das andere.....ein Triumph für Chaumet
und seinen bezaubernden und originellen Schöpfungen
The brooches pictured are typical of the jewel brooches of the period, especially those by the House of Fabergé, which feature large gemstones such as aquamarine, topaz, amethyst, sapphire, ruby, and magnificent emeralds in a variety of filigree settings with ribbons and borders of diamonds. Similar models were also produced by Chaumet, Boucheron, and Cartier.
left:
- Oval brooch with a round emerald, Greek pattern of rose-cut diamonds and eight diamonds as a frame.
- Regent bow-shaped brooch with diamonds and rose-cut diamonds, a chain of rose-cut diamonds, and a large emerald in an oval set with diamonds.
- Oval brooch with a rectangular emerald, rose-cut diamond leaves, and round diamond settings.
- Brooch with a charming round emerald surrounded by diamonds in a frame of wild roses and rose borders.
- Lily-shaped brooch with three round emeralds, diamonds and some rose-cut diamonds.
- Watch set with diamonds and a round emerald in the center.
- Brooch with a round emerald, base setting of acanthus leaves and a diamond frame with a pendant made of a pear-shaped emerald, surrounded by diamonds see also picture below in color, this brooch was offered again in 1974 in Geneva at Christies.
- (Hair)pin with 2 stylized wings set with rose-cut diamonds flanking a pear-cut emerald.
- Earrings with a round emerald and a double row of diamonds.
- Brooch made of a very high emerald, surrounded by 12 diamonds.
right:
- Small brooch with an emerald gem with a mythological motif.
- Gold hand mirror with a princess crown, completely covered with diamonds on the front and back.
- Louis XV pendant with a large aquamarine surrounded by eight diamonds, garlands and navette pendants.
- Large pendant with an engraved emerald cameo surrounded by rose-cut diamonds.*
- Large square pendant with very large aquamarine.
- Brooch with diamond rosettes, an emerald in the center and oriental engraving.
- Six-sided aquamarine brooch with Greek key and rose-cut diamonds.
The spectacular auction in Lausanne of Princess Vera Lobanow de Rostow, née Princess Dolgorouky, who died in Vevey, ended with a total proceeds of 3,470,000 francs.
Princess Wera Lobanoff de Rostoff died in April 1919 and was buried in Paris in the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery. Her tomb has been recently restored and the marble group which stands on it is now protected by thick panels of glass. Her secretary, Mr Charles Decker, was the executor of her estate and it is on his request that her jewels were sold, from 12th to 17th of January 1920, in Lausanne.
The most important piece of the collection was of course the Princess's three-row natural pearl necklace, but she also owned magnificent diamonds, an impressive drop-shaped natural pearl, three tiaras all in diamonds and many other jewels for a total of 280 lots.
*A HISTORIC EMERALD AND DIAMOND PENDANT carved emerald cameo - see above on the right side.
The emerald cameo in high relief depicting a female bust within a rose-cut diamond surround and detachable pendant hoop, 6.0 cm
The emerald cameo pendant, lot 234 of the original auction, was purchased at the time for the high price of 12,500 Swiss francs.
It reappeared more than 40 years later, in May 1964, in another auction, held by auctionhouse Jürg Stuker in Bern, as lot 20 from the collection of HRH Prince Nicholas of Romania, who might have inherited it from her mother Queen Marie of Romania.
Sold by Christie's in the year 2016 for 181.250,00 CHF
In his memoirs, Prince Felix later wrote of these jewels as ....each more beautiful than the other.....a triumph for Chaumet and his enchanting and original creations.
Jaques Bienenfeld bought the rest of the Lobanowschen Jewels to cancel a 2nd auction of Lobanow II, for total of one Million CHF.
Short before he had bought through a middles man Seiter in Vevey the Leuchtenberg Emerald for 1,25 CHF
Broche ovale, émeraude cabochon, entourage
grecque, roses et huit brillants.
Broche Régence, formée d'un noeud brillants
et roses, d'une chaine roses et d'une grande émeraude dans
un ovale pavé brillants.
Broche ovale, une émeraude rectangulaire,
feuilles en roses, chatons boules brillants.
Broche, charmante émeraude cabochon, entourage
brillants, cadre églantines et bords roses.
Broche, fleur de lis, trois émeraudes cabochons,
brillants et quelques roses. 6. Montre, pavée brillants,
centre émeraude cabochon.
Broche, émeraude cabochon ovale, monture culots
feuilles d'acanthe et cadre brillants soutenant une pendeloque émeraude
cabochon poire, entourage brillants. Christies 1974
Épingle, caducée roses, émeraude
cabochon forme poire.
Paire de boucles d'oreilles, émeraude cabochon,
double entourage de brillants.
Broche, émeraude cabochon trés haute,
entourée de douze brillants
Petite broche, intaille émeraude, sujet mythologique.
Glace à main, or, portant une couronne de
Princesse, entièrement orné de brillants à
la face et au dos.
Pendant Louis XV, grande aigue-marine entouré
de huit brillants, festons, bélière navette.
Grand pendant, camée, émeraude gravée
en haut relief entourée de roses.
Pendant carré, très grande aigue-marine.
Broche, rosace brillants, centre émeraude,
gravure orientale.
Broche aigue-marine, six pans, entourages grecque,
roses
*****
Princess Lobanov Rostovsky
Princess Vera Nikolajewna Lobanov Rostovsky (1836-1914). Born Schablickine,
she married the prince Jacques Lobanoff de Rostoff in 1858 at Saint
Petersburg. The prince and princess were among the first of what was
to become the Russian colony in Cannes, living at Villa Tropicale,
Allée des Bleuets, from 1903 to 1914.
Princess was married, at the age of 16, to the younger brother of
prince Alexis Borisovitch Lobanoff de Rostoff, ambassador of Russia
to the courts of Vienna, London and the Sublime Door, and later Russian
foreign minister.
Princess Vera was herself a princess Dolgorouky, from the Rurik dynasty
the first member of which was grand-duke lvan of Russia, who lived
in the 800s, and the last of which was Ivan IV, known as Ivan the
Terrible, Czar of all Russias.
Princess Vera's mother was a Chatilow, belonging to an ancient family
of the nobility of the government of Toula. Known as the "Violet
of Pétersbourg", her beauty was legendary.
Vera Lobanoff de Rostoff, became a widow at a very young age, and
was left with a great fortune. Being a woman of independent means
allowed her to pursue her passion for the arts.
She lived in a beautiful palace in Moscow, surrounded by a vast park.
In this residence, which she liked to call "her small Hermitage",
she accumulated a large collection of beautiful and interesting things
imported from all over the world. She also possessed an important
gallery of family portraits. Her house was a model of Slavic elegance
and refined luxury.
She also developed a passion for the beautiful jewellery; which she
purchased with great enjoyment, everywhere she went. To those who
were astonished by her purchases, she answered: "They are wise
investments; I am not squandering anything; on the contrary, I am
building a second fortune from the first one".
Special thanks for translation to Robert!
Sources:Archive Ursula Butschal;Christies; Sondheimer Vitrine XIII 1966;Lausanne, January 1920, lot 234, Joyaux de Madame la Princesse Lobanoff de Rostoff - Bern, May 1964, lot 20 from the Property of HRH Nicholas of Romania, Stucker Bern-.
THE COLLECTION | Princess Lobanoff de Rostoff Important Jewellery:
