Princess Margaret Jewellery

[reynard]

Originally Posted by branchg

Queen Mary won the amethysts at a charity auction and had them set into the parure you see in the photo. Evidently, she only wore the parure once and then gave it to The Queen Mother as a gift.

The Queen Mother never wore the pieces and sold them.

What kind of charity event do royals go to:) ? There is a similar story about how some of the cambridge emeralds were aquired at a charity event. I've never seen a charity event that gives away precious jewels. I guess I just don't move in the right social circles . Where did you hear this story branchg?

[Gita]

Those amethysts are maginicent! I think they are absoultely beautiful.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by reynard

What kind of charity event do royals go to:) ? There is a similar story about how some of the cambridge emeralds were aquired at a charity event. I've never seen a charity event that gives away precious jewels. I guess I just don't move in the right social circles . Where did you hear this story branchg?

It was common in the Gilded Age of the late 1800's and early 1900's for very rich or royal events to be staged for charity in which the guests were given tokens of jewels or unset stones as part of the occasion. It was a time of great displays of wealth.

Remember that in those days gems were not mined and controlled by huge cartels, so the value attributable to them was far less than they are today.

[foiegrass]

what are death dues?

[wymanda]

Originally Posted by foiegrass

what are death dues?

Death Duties are a tax on the value of a deceased persons estate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inherit...United_Kingdom)

[dbarn67]

I just finished checking out all 192 lots on the christies site. Some of the pieces are very gorgeous. Its worth taking a look. Be warned though it
took more than an hour to look at them all. Either christies is slow or my
connection is slow. Enjoy!

[sara1981]

late Princess Margaret's jewels at Christies in New York

Getty Images

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by Warren

There is discussion of the auction in the Princess Margaret Jewels thread.
In short, the Poltimore is being used as the centrepiece of the auction.

Some controversy seems to have been developing around Linley's initiative to auction his mother's belongings:

according to Cindy Adams, a gossip maven who more often than not does get it right, Lord Snowdon and Linley, father and son respectively, are not on speaking terms anymore because Snowdon disagrees about selling Margaret's items, the tiara among them:

http://www.nypost.com/gossip/cindy/cindy.htm

According to Adams, some of the sale is now halted after Lord Snowdon wrote an angry letter to Christies, disputing the validity of the sale.

[kelly9480]

Snowdon has no claim on the items, and, since he isn't the one burdened by death taxes, really doesn't have a dog in the fight. It's none of his business what his children do with their belongings. If Margaret had planned her estate better, all of this could have been avoided.

[royaltyfan]

Too bad the jewels are to be auctioned. I think these gems should be handed back to the Queen as part of the country's heritage.Any news on the auction?

[pinkylou]

about lord snowdon's interference, i totally agree on his part. it has been claimed in the british media that the death duties story is just a cover up, that he actually just wants to get quite rich with his mother's property,and lord snowdon was reported supported the auction of his late ex wife's jewellery but wasn't pleased that their wedding presents were up for auction, and he also didn't like other personal properties that are being up for auction like paintings of her and famous pictures( which he reportedly took as a photographer)

[kelly9480]

I don't doubt for a second Linley wants to get rich -- he seems obsessed by making money. But the items were left by MArgaret to her children to do as they please. I don't see why Snowdon is so sentimental about the wedding presents -- he wasn't remotely sentimental about the marriage. These items belong to David and Sarah, and it's up to the two of them (or David if he's the one running this) to decide what should be kept. The Linleys and Chattos don't have large homes to store unwanted items, so either the things are sold or placed into storage. I was surprised to see that one of Linley's own creations for his mother is up for auction, though. I guess Serena didn't see the need for it.

[Lady Jean]

Some of the auction items, such as the clear plastic umbrella, seem like desperate attempts to make money. I think some things should have been given to the Queen, especially Queen Mary's items and things like the small pin that was possibly the Queen Mother's first piece of jewelry. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised that things I expect to have sentimental value for them (such the Annigoni painting, which took pride of place in her home) would be sold. After all Linley boldly sold the Mustique house while she was alive. I wonder what she would think of this auction.

[emeraldeyes]

Originally Posted by royaltyfan

Too bad the jewels are to be auctioned. I think these gems should be handed back to the Queen as part of the country's heritage.

I am sure that most if not all of the items were offered to the Queen and/or other members of the royal family for purchase first. It is likely that the lots for the auction were not finalised until after those involved had made their decisions on whether to buy a certain piece or not. This may explain why many other large and historic jewels are not included in the sale. (i.e. the Teck circle necklace/tiara and the turquoise parure.) It is possible that these items would have been included if not 'snapped up' by some other family member. Presumably the pieces that are viewed by the general public as being sentimental - like the 'M' pin - were not viewed in the same light by people who knew better how Princess Margaret herself felt about those items. Maybe she didn't like them or wear them very often, so they don't have a lot of emotional value for her relatives.
That being said, I really can't believe they're selling that painting!

[emeraldeyes]

Originally Posted by kelly9480

I don't doubt for a second Linley wants to get rich -- he seems obsessed by making money.

Can you expand on this?

[Prince of Chota]

While I love the Poltimore tiara and would love to see it remain in the family (and therefore in the public eye on official occasions), there are several other tiaras in Princess Margaret's family that are equally lovely and have a far longer connection to the royal family. And with the surprisingly meagre incomes that extended members of the royal family receive, I'm not in the least bit surprised with the sale. There are plenty more jewels in that family. The piece that I am most surprised by in the sale is Queen Mary's diamond riviere necklace, as I presumed that its provinence would keep it out of the auction catalogues. I must marvel, though, at the many ways in which the Poltimore tiara can be worn: in the full form, with the flowers as a necklace, and with the large scroll pieces as brooches. Wonderful!

[Prince of Chota]

About the vacation home on Mustique that was mentioned on the previous page, I remember seeing it in an issue of Architectural Digest from a year or so ago. It had at that time changed hands (after HH's death), and had been renovated/remodelled for the then owner. Lovely place, really. Several separate pavillions in a kind of H shape if my memory serves me correctly, and wonderful views. Not very ostentatious, either, given the hedonistic reputation that Mustique had. I'll see if I can go back and find the article so I can let everyone know where to look it up. (I realise that this is quite off the topic of jewels, but I felt obligated to respond).

[Lady Jean]

Originally Posted by Prince of Chota

...The piece that I am most surprised by in the sale is Queen Mary's diamond riviere necklace, as I presumed that its provinence would keep it out of the auction catalogues. ...

I am surprised too but they don't have much of a royal heritage other than Queen Mary had them from 1933 on, bequeathed to her by Lady Mount Stephen.

I was able to see the exhibit in New York and while I was struck by how huge those diamonds were and the magnificence of the Poltimore, I thought the quality of the multi-strand pearl necklace lot 118 was not so impressive. For example, the center pearl on the lowest strand had clearly visible bumps on it (for lack of a more technical jewelry term.) The "M" brooch was more modest than I expected but the small sapphire brooch (former pearl necklace clasp, lot 177) was absolutely stunning, much better than in the pictures. The Poltimore looked much older and delicate than I expected, and the gold setting more noticeable. It certainly is a showstopper.

[sara1981]

i would have agree with posts because Princess Margaret's ex-hubby have rights for fights to christies because hard tell you about that i know her ex-hubby more respectives but im sure he would accept to sold of Margaret's jewels or not but we have wait and see what he says ok or not.

Margaret's son wanted sold his mother's jewels and her son would become rich and also Sarah because more remind of their mother very much but im sure lord snowdon wanted know about can sell or not.

if Princess Margaret would alives today