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| Crown Copyright The Royal Collection Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
Truly a masterpiece, this necklace and earrings form part of a parure presented to Queen Mary in 1935 for her Silver Jubilee. The necklace was originally made in the Sixteenth Century, but has visible Seventeenth and Nineteenth Century additions.
The necklace’s chain of snakes and crosses is gold enameled opaque white, pale-blue, light-green and translucent blue and green, set with pearls, rubies, and emeralds. The earrings are also of enameled gold, set with pearls, and rubies.
The parure originally belonged to one Mary Seton (an attendant of Mary, Queen of Scots, by whom the necklace was given) who left the necklace to Archibald William, 13th Earl of Eglinton (1812-61); by whom bequeathed to his daughters, Egidia, Sybil and Hilda; by whom sold to Christie’s February 22, 1894 (marked as part of lot 69). The set was in turn acquired by Algernon Borthwick, 1st Baron Glenesk (1830-1908); by descent to his daughter, Lilias Countess Bathurst (d.1965); by whom presented to Queen Mary, the Silver Jubilee, May 1935. A matching brooch completes the parure.
On an editorial note, knowing that this parure was once part of the Royal Collection—as owned by Mary Queen of Scots—it is my suspicion that Queen Mary (known for making sure anything that ever left the Royal Collection was returned to her) probably suggested that the Countess Bathurst make her a gift of the set for her Silver Jubilee. But, no one can say for sure.
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