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Vita Sackville West's emerald pendant
Posted by Beth on December 29, 2019, 8:54 am
Also featuring in Bonhams 4 December 2019 sale was an important Cartier carved emerald and rock crystal pendant which had belonged initially to Lady Sackville and then to her daughter, Vita Sackville West.
Some may find it interesting to read the information provided by Bonhams.
Were the Cartier or other jewels as expensive as now or were the Buyers that Rich ??
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Also featuring in Bonhams 4 December 2019 sale was an important Cartier carved emerald and rock crystal pendant which had belonged initially to Lady Sackville and then to her daughter, Vita Sackville West.
Some may find it interesting to read the information provided by Bonhams.
I strongly suspect that Cartier jewels, circa 1912, when the emerald necklace was purchased, were as expensive as it would be to purchase a new Cartier jewel today.
The Sackvilles were rich - very rich. The entailed estate, which went with the title, enabled the then Lord Sackville to maintain Knole, one of the largest and grandest of English country houses, and to entertain on a lavish scale. He was also a director of a bank which would have given him a considerable income.
In 1912 following the death of Sir John Scott he and his wife inherited what the press said was about half a million pounds sterling. Sir John Scott's family challenged the will arguing that Lady Sackville (Vita Sackville West's mother) exerted undue influence on Sir John and that a missing codicil disinherited Lord and Lady Sackville.
After a court case which riveted the media, the will was upheld and Lord and Lady Sackville received the inheritance in 1913. It consisted of art work (the remainder of the Wallace Collection in Paris) said to be worth over 350 thousand pounds plus 150 thousand pounds in cash.
Perhaps the knowledge of the contents of Sir John's will (he died in January 1912) prompted Lady Sackville's purchase of the emerald necklace in 1912 which has just been sold by Bonhams.
Re: Vita Sackville West's emerald pendant. More about the pendant
I spent several hours today looking through the newspapers to see if I could find an image of Vita Sackville West wearing the emerald pendant.
And found this
Detail
I wasn't sure if Vita Sackville West was wearing the pendant which was auctioned by Bonhams as the proportions of the border area looked different.
Then, later today, I found this video which shows that the researcher from Bonhams had been on the same quest, and that everyone accepts that Vita was wearing the jewel.
Emeralds seem to have been Vita Sackville Wests favourite gemstone -- if the list of her wedding gifts is anything to judge by.
Wedding gifts
I was surprised to see when looking more carefully at photos of the jewel auctioned by Bonhams that the emerald was cracked. I wonder how much the jewel would have fetched if the emerald was intact?
This photo, as well as showing the crack, gives a better idea of the size of the jewel.
I am also intrigued by the views of the back of the jewel shown on Bonhams' site. I cannot decide if the emerald is meant to be detachable.
A Sackville tiara which seems to have been entailed with the title holder
As I was browsing the newspapers today, I realised that a tiara worn by Victoria, Lady Sackville, mother of Vita Sackville West was later worn by the wife of the 4th Baron Sackville, which suggests to me that the tiara was entailed to the holder of the title.
Victoria, Lady Sackville circa 1900
Anne, Lady Sackville in 1931
Detail
Anne, Lady Sackville dressed in her robes for the 1937 Coronation (photo taken before the coronation)
Re: A Sackville tiara which seems to have been entailed with the title holder
Thanks Beth, I do love to read how you put together these topics. All I could feel or think is 'Period Drama Movie'.
Regards,
Dave.
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As I was browsing the newspapers today, I realised that a tiara worn by Victoria, Lady Sackville, mother of Vita Sackville West was later worn by the wife of the 4th Baron Sackville, which suggests to me that the tiara was entailed to the holder of the title.
Victoria, Lady Sackville circa 1900
Anne, Lady Sackville in 1931
Detail
Anne, Lady Sackville dressed in her robes for the 1937 Coronation (photo taken before the coronation)
on December 29, 2019, 8:54 am
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