From the annotated auction catalogue (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k12510915/f12.item.r=catalogue%20joyaux%20couronne%201887.zoom)
This beautiful brooch was dated c. 1855 in the Louvre exhibition catalogue,
I have never read any conclusive evidence linking the diamonds to Marie Antoinette, but the possible Sassoon conection is quite interesting.
It was sold in 2009:
Christie's Sale 7733 The London Sale: Jewels (London | 10 June 2009)
Lot 180
Price realised GBP 229,250
Estimate GBP 150,000 - GBP 200,000
A SUPERB ANTIQUE DIAMOND BROOCH
Of naturalistic design, the pavé-set old-cut diamond leaf canopy suspending a graduated fringe of diamond trails with six pear-shaped diamond drops, mounted in silver and gold, brooch circa 1860, diamond drops late 18th century, 12.7 cm long
Accompanied by six reports dated 3 April 2009 from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
Report No. Colour Clarity Weight
1102648876 E SI1 2.70
2105648281 E SI2 2.68
5101649322 E I2 1.31
2105648280 F SI2 2.70
1102649328 F SI2 2.41
2105648891 G SI2 1.24
Provenance
Purchased by Mr. Alfred Ezra for his wife in the early 1930s and thence by decent
https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-superb-antique-diamond-brooch-5213830-details.aspx?from=salesummary&pos=10&intObjectID=5213830&sid=&page=15
christiesjewels (Instagram, 11 January 2018)
#TBT to June 2009 at @ChristiesInc London when an antique brooch was sold for £ 229,250.
The infamous "affair of the necklace' was a huge cause celebre and contributed to the decline in the Queen's popularity. An elaborated scam was set up to steal the necklace and the diamonds were ultimately sold in London. From there, it is believed that the 6 principle diamonds in the brooch were part of the "Queen's Necklace". The Chateau de Versailles were also confident enough in the provenance to include the brooch in their 1955 exhibition 'Marie-Antoinette, Archiduchesse, Dauphine et Reine', commemorating the bi-centenary of Marie Antoinette's birth.
Exhibited:
Versailles 1955, n°478
London 1959, n°38
Louvre 1962, n°129
The authors of the Louvre catalogue linked the brooch to a rather similar one, the "Aiguillettes et culot" sold in 1887 from the French Crown Jewels, which they wrote “seems to have been acquired on behalf of Queen Victoria”…
Indeed Bernard Morel writes that the brooch was sold for 25100 francs to Mr. Bonynge, representative of the British Court.
The brooch was made by Bapst.
In Berthaud’s photographic catalogue, 1887: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10525652m/f14.item.r=diamants%20couronne%20catalogue%20berthaud.zoom
In Vincent Meylan’s Christie’s, the Jewellery archives revealed, sold Christie’s London, 19 June 1991.
PS: I think that the photo of the corolle brooch on a blue background that Beth posted is from the 1962 Louvre exhibit.
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