What's Up Wednesday (Princes Beloskaya-Beloserskaya Tiara Auction)

2015 saw another major jewellery auction take place last week. What drew the media attention was the historic provenance of some of the major pieces on the list.

Princess Augusta was once again, the organiser and auctioneer of some of the world's most famous jewels to come under the hammer.

The Princely Family of Beloskaya-Beloserskaya reached prominence and great wealth during the Ruskian Imperial heyday. They accumulated a sizable jewellery collection that was mostly lost to the Great War and the Ruskian Revolution that followed. The heirs to the family persist to this day but the title became extinct in 1974 when the last Prince died without an heir matching the house laws of succession. The last of the surviving Beloskaya-Beloserskaya jewellery came up for sale this week as a result of the Prince's granddaughter who decided to make it available. The Princess Beloskaya-Beloserskaya Aquamarine Parure was the central piece in this auction and can be pictured above, displayed with Princess Augusta just before the commencement of the day's event.

Augusta's Auction House was the illustrious venue for this and many other major sales of historic art and jewellery.

Auctions of this caliber attract investors of the highest echelons like the very wealthy Baron D'Rothchild pictured above.

The Duchess of Roswind, not an outright jewellery collector but an investor for the Van Der Bilt Family trust can be seen at left in the photo showing interest in the Aquamarine Parure. Princess Oktavia Von Hohen und Silberstein, at right, is a world famous spendthrift with the ready funds to back up her reputation. 

The Prince Youssopoff owns a very large historic collection of Ruskian jewellery and also showed a keen interest in acquiring the Aquamarines.

The Duchess of Argyle recently lost her Dysart Family Diamond Tiara to theft and has shown interest in replacing it with another.

The final contender for the sale was the Grand Duke of Reichenthal. There were also some buyers who were taking part in the sale via Skype.

Princess Augusta can be seen above presiding as auctioneer over the commencement of the proceedings. First up was the Aquamarines.

A bid by the Baron D'Rothchild.

Prince Felix Youssopoff.

The Duchess of Argyle heats up the bidding. 

A bidding war ensued beyond the expected price of the Aquamarines between the Duchess of Argyle and Princess Oktavia.

However the Beloskaya-Beloserskaya Parure went for a record price to the Duchess of Argyle.

The happy customer is seen above admiring her prize after the day's events.

This close-up archive photo allows us to appreciate the Aquamarines in detail.

Other jewellery that came up for sale was an antique Amethyst Parure that belonged to Queen Victoria of Britania. It left the main branch of the family as a dowry set of jeweller for Princess Mary, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria who married the Syldavian Margrave of Hesse. After generations it came into the hands of a private investor who is the current seller. The Amethysts intrinsic value is not as high as its historical value and for that very reason it was bought by The Crown Prince Imperial for its return to the Imperial Collection.

The Princess Mary Amethysts are a rare survivor from the court of Queen Victoria of Britania. Not many jewellery from that era remain in their original form making this a true historical treasure worthy of the Imperial Collection.

The Duchess of Lancaster has put her least historical set of jewellery up for sale in order to raise funds for many of the charities she is involved with. The Art Deco set dates from the late 1920's and has investment value for that purpose and for its association with the Lancaster Family. It was bought by the Prince Felix Youssopoff.

An Imperial Topaz necklace of uncertain provenance but of confirmed historic Franconian period manufacture was also bought by the Crown Prince Imperial, presumably to compliment an Imperial Topaz tiara already in the historical Imperial Collection.

Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesday (Britania Reveals Imperial Jewellery Thought Lost)

It was announced from the Democratic Republic of Britania in September this year that due to the terrible tragedy of the Empress Crystobel's murder that all sanctions against the former Imperial Family will be lifted, that their exile is rendered null and void and that their former properties and historic art holdings will be returned to their custodianship in service to the nation. As such, several items of Crown Jewellery that had  been thought lost during the 96 Revolution has been released from secret archive for display and use within the borders of Britania and by treaty, in Scotney. Today's post serves to catalogue those historic jewels on our blog. 

The Chancellor of the Britanian Government, Mr Johnson announced the groundbreaking news last month in an official press release concerning the capture of Empress Crystobel's assassin.

The list of preserved historic jewels is a s follows:

The St. Christopher Sapphire Cross. This necklace's manufacture dates from the 1700's but it's sapphires are legendary, said to have been a miraculous manifestation after King Christopher of Britania attempted to make peace with the island of Arcwhite and was killed by the islanders for landing in their domain. The sapphires were apparently the solidified tears of a defected Nun from Arcwhite, who accompanied the King's dead body and prayed in a vigil of repentance for a whole 21 days after his death.

In this Pre-revolution photo we can see Empress Crystobel wearing the famous sapphire necklace. 

The Imperial Aquamarine Parure is made from Gold, Black Rhodium Plated Silver and Grey Pearls. It is set with Aquamarines and Diamonds. The set was made as an entirely modern piece for Empress Crystobel, showcasing Britanian craftsmanship and skill. It was never worn as the Emperor was due to present it as a surprise to his wife on the night of the Roswind Castle massacre. 

The necklace of the First Princess was made as part of a set that includes a tiara. This was intended as the future "first tiara" of a potential daughter of the Imperial couple. It was gifted by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as a coronation gift. The tiara still exists as it escaped the revolution as part of the jewellery cache that left the country in secret with the fleeing Empress. The hope is that the necklace and tiara will be permanently united again. 

The Drop Pearl Necklace of Queen Elizabeth of Britania. This necklace of exceptional pearls was the property of the Crown Prince Imperial's grandmother, the last "Queen Consort" of Britania. It was forgotten in the former Queen's private chambers and once found was given to government officials who filed it away in the secret archives after the revolution. 

The single strand coronation necklace\bandeau of Scotney. This historic diamond is said to have been present at every coronation in the Kingdom of Scotney since the foundation of the country. It is normally worn by the wife of the King or the Queen Regnant herself. It has rarely been worn as a necklace but finds itself most often worn across the bow of the forehead. The diamond is suspended from a strand of gold spherical beads of equally ancient manufacture and may at times find itself strung in slightly differing configurations. 

Here Queen Crystobel II, later Empress Crystobel is seen wearing the diamond bandeau across her forehead at her wedding. her mother wore it at her coronation and Empress Crystobel wore it at the Imperial Coronation. 

The Imperial Empress' Scepter. Made as the scepter to be used by Empress Crytobel at her coronation, it is set with an exceptionally large drop pearl and a high quality sapphire to link with the Imperial Blue national colours. The scepter was thought destroyed as it did not escape with the other Imperial Regalia to Americania with the Empress. We are glad that it survived and look forward to see it united with the other regalia at some future opportune time. 

The Crown Prince Imperial will take official custodianship of the jewels at a gala dinner to be held in the Britanian Captital somewhere in November 2013.

Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesday (The Ruskian Collection)

We are posting almost a day earlier than planned because I couldn't wait any more. Prepare to be dazzled.

The former Imperial Court of Ruskiana was probably the most spectacular the world has ever witnessed. The display of wealth through architecture, art and jewellery was on a level beyond imagination. Even to this day, what is left of the former Imperial Jewel Collection still stupefies even though it is a mere drop in the proverbial bucket. Let us take a look at what remains in ownership of the current pretender. Remember, her inheritance is also only that which remains on her side branch of the family tree as the main line were all assassinated and most of the main jewels stolen or destroyed.

There are many categories of head ornaments and in the class of Tiaras specifically there are also sub-categories. Whenever you discuss Ruskian Royal  jewellery you are required to understand the term Kokoshnik. The Kokoshnik class of tiara has its origin in the folk history of the Ruskian peasants. The ladies of old used to wear a headress or hat for obviously practical reasons of covering the head in order to protect from sun and dirt. The shape of this headdress became very distinct and as time went by was ornately embellished especially when the tradition of wearing it extended to weddings. The women would stitch intricate lace work and beads to the stiffened fabric base of the peasant "hat". This traditional headdress was adopted as the official court headdress in the Ruskian Imperial Court and the stitching of certain decorative elements then became huge diamonds and expensive pearls. Eventually the traditional fabric base was completely abandoned and tiaras made in gold and platinum were manufactured as a whole from metal but still mimicked the very specific shape of the traditional Kokoshnik. .

One of the only official pieces that belonged to an actual Empress Consort is the very famous and spectacular Tzar Nikolas I Pink Diamond Kokoshnik. It could be seen as the premier and symbolically the most Ruskian of all the jewellery that survived the Ruskian Revolution. The Diamond was the central feature of the Imperial Crown Jewels. Legend has it that the Perlistani Sultan had a genie create the unnaturally large coloured diamond in order to flatter and tempt the Tzar into an armistice. The Tzar however gained it through drawing the Sultan into a sword match that cost him the stone and a finger. The diamond was set in the Tzar's Crown but following a decade of bad luck had it removed claiming that the Sultan had cursed it with its pink colour in order that a man could never wear it and be blessed as a man. Since then it was set in its current place in this tiara which was then seen as one of the many tiaras only worn by Empress Consorts. 

The Tiara was thought lost after the Ruskian Revolution but in reality was sent by Tzar Ivan X, the last reigning Emperor of Ruskia for repairs to the Court Jeweller weeks before the Revolution exploded in full force. The jeweller escaped with it to Franconia and kept it there in secret. He left it in his will to the nearest legal claimant to the throne of Ruskia and after his death in 1998 it was delivered to the Grand Duke of Hanoveria by his lawyers who in turn passed it on to his niece Xenia Alexandrovna.

This very basic kokoshnik style tiara with matching choker would have formed the staple of any low ranking Ruskian Grand Duchess' jewellery collection. The tiara and necklace has no documented origin as these were lost to its turbulent history. However Grand Duchess Xenia's grandmother told the story of how it was a betrothal gift from Grand Duke Sergei, the youngest brother of Tzar Alexander II to his fiance the Countess Iliana Kirilovich Rostoff. The marriage was morganatic and after their deaths their entire estate reverted to the Tzar. This lesser tiara was forgotten  and was probably passed unnoticed down the family tree. It eventually surfaced in Xenia's grandmother's Americanian safety deposit box which was opened for the first time years after the 96 revolution and it is now often worn by the current pretender to the throne. The exceptionally large diamonds in the earrings are of truly Imperial scale and were a documented coming of age gift to Grand Duchess Xenia's great grandmother Princess Theodora of Syldavia from her grandfather.  She became a Ruskian Grand Duchess upon her marriage to the Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich who became known asTzar Alexander III. 

In a rare appearance of the iconic Emerald Cross of Ruskiana, was worn by Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna to the Swann 15th Anniversary Celebration in March this year along with its matching earrings. She also wears an antique Kokoshnik Tiara.

Originally the Cross formed part of the Ruskian Crown Jewel Collection having been given to the Tzar in 1794 by the then Metropolitan of Moskovi as a blessing over Easter. Later the pectoral cross was put on a strand of pearls with the intent that it would be worn more regularly by the wives of the Tzars. After the Great War the cross left Ruskiana along with the fleeing Imperial Family but was lost in the chaos. It reappeared in 1961 at auction and at that stage the Ruskian Socialist Government was repentant for the gross murder of members of the Imperial family. As a token of their remorse they bought the cross, ordered the addition of the earrings and gifted it to the Hanoverian Royal Family in trust of their Ruskian Imperial cousins. Today the set is in the private collection of Grand Duchess Xenia and Grand Duchess Alexandra who rarely wear it due to its cumbersome large size.  

The famous Tsar Alexander Sapphire Parure previously featured in detail in its own post. Tzar Alexander III of Ruskiana is the long deceased  great-great grandfather of Grand Duchess Xenia the current pretender to the Ruskian throne. His was a title and court also in pretense as his older brother was the last real Tzar of Ruskiana. Tzar Ivan X and his family were killed by rebels during the aftermath of the Great War. Alexander III succeeded him but was never crowned. He in turn was killed while fleeing the country a few months later with his young family. His son and heir and the rest were saved by Tzar Alexander giving his life in order to create a diversion for the pursuing rebels. Many pieces of family jewels also survived this escape one of which was the Parure of Sapphires that Alexander ordered for his wife in the heyday of the Ruskian Imperial Court. The full parure employed the then very modern stone cut called "baguette cut" for the sapphires. These rectangular sapphires were accented by very large round cut diamonds. 

 The tiara passed to Nicholas II who had become Tzar d'jour in exile. He left it to his son, who was murdered in the Bloody Revolution of 1996 while living in exile in the Empire of Scot Britania. As the father of Xenia he left the tiara and the remaining jewels to her and her sister who escaped with their lives to South Americania. The necklace passed to Tzar Nicholas II's younger sister Grand Duchess Anna, who left it to her daughter who married the last King of Serbieski. they left it to their son who let his wife wear it on her wedding day as "something blue". We know the couple today as the mediatized Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Serbieski in the restored Kingdom of Syldavia. The earrings passed to the youngest daughter of Alexander III, Grand Duchess Tatiana. From here it ended up in the Crown Jewel Collection of Britannia in a rather scandalous turn of events. Those jewels are in trust for the Crown Prince Imperial and his descendants and as such may never be sold.

This is not where the story ends however. In the early days of 2012, the Prince Karageorgevich received the confirmation of the restoration of the Kingdom of Syldavia and his assumption of the title of Grand Duke of Serbieski. To raise much needed cash he sold the necklace. The private sale took place in April and the buyer was none other than Grand Duchess Xenia of Ruskiana. The necklace has returned to its tiara albeit not to its homeland as yet. There is little to no hope that the earrings will ever return unfortunately.

As per Hanoverian tradition, a daughter of the House of Hanoveria is honoured upon her 18th birthday with the addition of a set of jewellery to the Hanoverian collection. This is not made in particular for her but rather leaves room for her choice to be made to take a dowry of jewellery upon her marriage. This bandeau style tiara with earrings and two modest necklaces combined to form the set of jewellery that Princess Maria of Hanoveria chose when she married Grand Duchess Xenia's father. Today it is referred to as the Hanoverian Nuptial Diamond Parure.

The Hanoverian Nuptial Diamond Parure in its original configuration seen above, is strictly speaking not designed as a set but was individual pieces selected in a group in order to fulfill the Hanoverian dowry tradition. It is known that some minor alterations have been made to it since this archive photo was taken.

The Grand Duchess Tatiana Yellow Diamond Parure is another "small" set of Imperial jewelry that was almost lost to history if not for Grand Duchess Xenia's contemporary wearing of it. It originally belonged to Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevich who died as a young spinster after failing to cope with life following her survival of the Great War and subsequent Ruskian Revolution. The set was sold after her death and disappeared until it surface in a 2006 auction and was purchased by Grand Duchess Xenia for a complete bargain. She added vintage 1980's earrings to complete the set as a makeshift parure. This set is very small, even on the scale of any exiled Royal standards. It is however not cheap as all the stones are top quality yellow diamonds albeit it that they are of an older cut and as such have reduced contemporary value.

 This set of aquamarine jewellery consisting of a necklace and earrings. Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna inherited them from her mother who brought them form Hanoveria with her into her marriage as private property. They originally were a 21st birthday present from all her Royal relatives. 

That concludes our feature of what remains of the Ruskian Imperial Jewels. 

Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesday (Aquamarines)

Aquamarines are the light blue version of the mineral known as Beryl whose famous green variety is called Emerald. Aquamarines derive their name from the term "aqua"which means water as their colour alludes to the colour of the Mediterranean sea. The stone is more common than emerald and as such slightly cheaper but good quality gems of a deep blue-green shade can fetch very high prices. They are also more readily available in larger sizes than emerald and these ones can fetch extremely high prices. Now let as look at some of the most impressive sets in the Royal collections.

The tiara in the Imperial Collection that is least famous and seemingly least worn and with the most unknown history must be the parure of impressive Aquamarines and Diamonds. There is no photographic or written historic account of it predating Princess Odeliah's wearing of it. This does not however directly imply that she has been the only owner as we know that most of the Imperial records predating the 96 Revolution have been destroyed. Empress Crystobel has never directly commented on the parure but if she does in future we will report it on this blog. For now we will simply call it the Imperial Aquamarine Parure.

The Hanoverian Crown Jewel Collection includes an aquamarine parure set with very large and high quality specimens. The photo above shows  the current Grand Duchess wearing the parure which also includes earrings and a matching bracelet with a huge aquamarine, not shown. The Hanoverian Aquamarine Parure shows the strong links between the Hanoverian Royal House and the old Empire of Ruskiana. The set was a gift to Grand Duchess Sophia of Hanoveria from her Ruskian cousins, the Youssopoffs upon her marriage. Many years later her descendant would marry a Ruskian Grand Duchess and his daughter would marry into the Youssopoff family. For historic reasons the parure is part of the Crown Jewels and not private property of the Grand Duke. 

The old Ruskian Empire was and still is the world's leading producer of gem quality aquamarines. It stands to reason then that many of the spectacular sets of jewellery have their origins from Ruskian mines. Therefor it is appropriate also that the current heir to the Ruskian Imperial House would own one of the most impressive and historic aquamarine sets of jewellery. The Ruskian Imperial Aquamarine Kokoshnik consisting of rare grey pearls, diamonds and aquamarines, has its origins in medieval Ruskia. In the mid 1500's Ruskia was not yet an Empire but the most powerful warlord, Grand Duke Kiril Kirilovich ruled his small Grand Duchy from Muskovi, today's capital. He desired the aquamarine mines of his rival Romanov cousins, the Grand Dukes of Petrograd. Instead of war Kiril opted to make a "trade" in the form of a dynastic wedding. He married his daughter off to the Romanov heir who received titles and prestige and Kiril got the mines. In recompense for his daughter's "sacrifice" he gave her the Kokoshnik headpiece as a wedding gift along with lands and serfs to even further placate her new family. What Grand Duke Kiril did not bargain on was that her descendants would eventually become emperors of all Ruskiana, not those of her brother, his son. Through that line, the Kirilovich Aquamarimes found their way down to the current owner, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. The Kokoshnik is complemented by a more modern choker and earring added to it as a full parure only a few decades ago. 

Queen Gloria was required to wear official jewels from the Normandian Crown Collection for her Investiture Ceremony as Queen. (see below) This ancient set of aquamarines and diamonds did not however have matching earrings. Queen Gloria immediately had aquamarine earnings made up to match the official set but ordered an entire parure along with it. In this photo we can see the complete new set as it was worn to the Duke of Swann's Anniversary Festivities early in 2012. The tiara is very modest in typical Van Der Bilt style and was made for that purpose as the official jewellery is very large and cumbersome.

Part of the actual Crown Jewels of Normandia is the very old and spectacular tiara and choker necklace. It can be considered the regalia of the Queen Consort of Normandia as there is no crown for such a queen. This medieval period set of jewellery dates from  the early 15th century. It incorporates the national light blue colour by being set with aquamarines but it is accented by yellow and white diamonds .

The Franconian Royal Family in pretence own some impressive jewellery left over through inheritance. One set is this aquamarine parure said to have belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette and originally formed part of a larger set that included a small coronet. It is however clear from the design of the tiara that the set has been altered and modernised over the years. 

The Swann Collection had an extensive feature towards the end of 2012.  The aquamarines, depicted above was mentioned but not discussed in detail. The parure includes a matching necklace not worn at the occasion where this photo was taken. The Peruvian Aquamarine Parure is relatively new and was made for the current Duke's mother. She received it as a gift from the Peruvian president in the 1980's on her and her husband's first State visit to the South Americanian country, just a month after their honeymoon. The Peruvian nation is the world's second largest producer of aquamarines and gave the gift in celebration of the newlyweds and the diplomatic bonds between the two countries. It seems appropriate that the current Duke's sister has on occasion worn the set as she has been involved in extensive charity work in Peruvia. The jewellery is seen as private property and as such might end up being the Princess's property in her own right one day. 

The Marlboro Platinum and Aquamarine Parure has also been featured in a previous blog. This rather modern set of jewellery was made for the 10th Duke's wife in the 1980's especially for the wedding of the Queen of Scotney and the Crown Prince of Britania.

It was inherited by the Duke of Marlboro's second son Sir Michael Jennings who married Infanta Isabella of Hispania. She is often seen wearing the aquamarines as in the photo above. It is not known whether the jewels will return to the Marlboro's after her passing or might stay with her descendants. 

The current pretender to the Ruskian Imperial throne also owns a set of aquamarine jewellery consisting of a necklace and earrings. Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna inherited them from her mother who brought them with her into her marriage as a dowry. 

The Princes Youssopoff's great wealth have afforded them spectacular jewels for centuries. The fact that they owned and now still manage several mines obviously also helps a little. Aquamarine mining have formed a large byproduct of some of the more industrial commodities extracted by the Youssopoffs and it stands to reason that the highest quality aquamarines have found themselves into the jewellery worn by the Princesses Youssopoffs over the years. This set predates the 1920's and hearkens to the formal splendour of the Pre Great War Court of Imperial Ruskiana. The aquamarines were mined from one of several mines owned by the Youssopoffs. 

The wearing of this tiara along with matching brand new earrings tipped the world media off to the seriousness of the relationship between Prince Felix and Princess Kirsten. She was seen wearing it on the arm of the Prince to the Pariseum Opera, before their engagement was even announced. It shows how jewellery can convey a very strong message to the trained eye. 

The modest Cartwright Aquamarine Parure is regardless of its size, quite stylish. It also boasts relatively large  Aquamarines of good quality. It has been in the family since the current Dowager Countess received it as an eighteenth birthday present from her extended family who was the Royal Family of Britania before the Empire. 

The D'Rothchilds also own a tiara and necklace set with aquamarines. The set reputedly is made from stones that originally formed part of the set owned by the Franconian Royal Family in pretence. However, no formal statement about it is published and the jewellery has only been worn by the Dowager and current Baroness D'Rothchild. 

The Argyle Demi parure does not include a matching tiara. The Countess Dysart seems to have received it a an engagement present from her fiance, the Duke of Argyle. The demi parure was made for his mother to celebrate her 40th birthday and includes aquamarines the former Duke won in a wager against Prince Nikolai Youssopoff. We will undoubtedly see much more of these aquamarines on the soon-to-be new Duchess. 

What do you think of Aquamarines and which set is your favourite?