On June 18, 2019, Dorotheum will hold its annual sale „Kaiserhaus und Historika” at the Palais Dorotheum in Vienna.

Link to the sale:

https://www.dorotheum.com/de/a/57240/#6233245

This year the sale particularly showcases mementos of Maximilian, Archduke of Austria and Emperor of Mexico, and his wife Empress Charlotte, Princess of Belgium.

The main surprise of this sale is the exceptional jewelled badge of the Order of the Starry Cross, which belonged to Empress Charlotte of Mexico.



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6233149/

Being one of the world’s most exclusive order, the Order of the Starry Cross was instituted by the Dowager Empress Eleonora Gonzaga in 1668, to celebrate the salvage from a fire at the Hofburg of a piece of wood believed to have come from the True Cross of Christ, which was seen as miraculous.



Since its foundation, admission to the Order has been strictly limited to ladies, born in the highest nobility (16 quarters required), and professing the Catholic religion. An Archduchess of Austria (often the Empress), acted as Grand Mistress.

Jewelled insignia of the Order are exceedingly rare, though it was common practice for the ladies of the Order to wear their gold badge suspended from a diamond bow-brooch instead of the usual black ribbon.


Empress Charlotte was portrayed by Franz Xaver Winterhalter wearing a (regular) badge of the Order from a diamond bow in 1864 (San Simeon (California), Hearst Castle):



Other versions of this portrait are known, including a full length state portrait by Albert Gräfle, from 1864 or 1865, at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, which shows the same badge and bow (detail).



Empress Charlotte’s badge, of gold, enamel, diamonds and rubies, was left by her to Archduchess Elisabeth Marie, daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, the infamous “Red
Archduchess”, and it remained with her descendants.

In recent times, Empress Zita was photograph wearing such a badge, as was Regina of Saxe Meinigen, on the day of her wedding to Archduke Otto, the last heir to the Austrian throne.

Zita with her son Otto:



Zita in 1949:



Regina and Otto in 1951:



To the best of my knowledge it is the first time that such a badge has been offered for sale at a public auction.



Other heirlooms from the descendants of Archduchess Elisabeth Marie include an exceptional badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the male equivalent of the Order of the Starry Cross.



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6233140/

This badge, in diamonds, silver and gold, belonged to Emperor Maximilian, was returned to his parents, Karl Franz and Sophie, after his execution, and they gave it in turn to Crown Prince Rudolf, the father of Archduchess Elisabeth Marie.


This Diamond and Emerald brooch, in gold, was given by Empress Elisabeth of Austria (‘Sissi’), to her granddaughter Archduchess Elisabeth Marie:



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6232993/


A Citrine and Diamond Ring, with the engraved monogram "MIM" (Maximilian Imperador Mexico) with imperial crown, by Rothe. It is sold with a 1868 letter confirming that the ring was from the estate of the father of Emperor Maximilian, Archduke Franz Karl.



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6233158/

Emperor Maximilian was known for his extensive collection of rings set with precious or semi-precious stones.


Other notable lots, from different owners, include an early watercolour Miniature Portrait of the young Emperor Franz Joseph I, bordered by imitation stones:



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6232723/#


And a rare Presentation Ring, by Köchert, from Emperor Charles I, the last Austrian Emperor, who reigned for two years:



https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6233245/


Thomas Ghysdaël