A moonstone, multi-coloured sapphire and diamond brooch, circa 1900
Set to the centre with a cabochon moonstone, within a surround of vari-cut sapphires of pink, blue and yellow tint, each with a rose-cut diamond highlight, decorated with trios of similarly-cut diamonds, length 3.3cm., cased by A. Marx&Co., 121 Regent's St., London
Sold for
£1,800
inc. premium
Footnotes
- According to the vendor, this brooch was once the property of Maureen, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava and was given as a gift to the current owner's family.
Lady Dufferin was the middle daughter of Arthur Guinness, son of the first Earl Iveagh, her lineage can be directly traced to the original Arthur Guinness, who founded the great Irish brewery, where she was at one time a serving board member. The three daughters were known during the 1920's as the 'Fabulous Guinness Girls' and from all accounts Lady Dufferin was a fairly 'lively character, ravishingly beautiful and breathtakingly rich'. She had three husbands, the first of whom was the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, who was killed during the war in Burma. Lady Dufferin's exploits continue to be referred to in Royal, Social and Literary circles. See The Daily Telegraph, 31st January 1997.
Category: Jewellery
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