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GENEVA (AFP) – Marie Antoinette's dazzling diamonds and pearls, unseen in public for two centuries, will go on sale in Geneva on Wednesday (Nov. 14) in what is being one of the most important royal jewelery auctions in history.
The treasures were secretly whisked out of Paris in 1791 as King Louis XVI, his queen and their children prepared for escape during the French Revolution.
They are part of a major collection, held by the Royal Italian House of Bourbon-Parma, which is being sold by Sotheby's auction house.
Out of the more than 100 lots, 10 pieces belonged to the ill-fated Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the revolution.
She was guillotined in Paris in October 1793 at the age of 37.
"It's the sale of the 21st century." Because how do you top Marie Antoinette? " Andres White Correal, Sotheby's Senior Director of Jewelery, told AFP last month.
The highlight is Marie Antoinette's Pearl, a natural pearl and diamond valued at US $ 1-2 million (870,000-1.75 million euros).
A natural pearl and diamond necklace composed of three rows of more than 100 slightly graduated pearls is expected to fetch US $ 200,000-300,000, as a pair of pearls and diamonds during earrings.
A monogrammed ring containing a lock of her hair is valued at US $ 8,000-10,000.
A fine natural pearl and diamond necklace is meanwhile priced at US $ 40,000-70,000, while a double ribbon bow diamond brooch is estimated at US $ 50,000-80,000.
'IMBUED WITH HISTORY'
"It is one of the most important royal jewellery collections ever to appear on the market and every one is absolutely imbued with history," said Daniela Mascetti, deputy chair of Sotheby's Jewelery Europe.
The jewels followed by a winding path highlighting European power dynamics in the 18th and 19th centuries.
According to accounts written by the queen's lady in waiting, Mrs Campan, Marie Antoinette spent all evening in the Tuileries Palace wrapping all her diamonds, rubies and pearls in cotton and enclosing them in a wooden chest.
Archduchess Marie-Christine, before being felt on the French Queen's native Austria, and to the safe-keeping of her nephew, the emperor.
In 1792, the royal family was imprisoned in Paris. The king and queen were executed the next year, and their 10-year-old son, Louis XVIII died in captivity.
Only their daughter, Marie Therese of France, survived. She was sent to Austria in 1796, where she was given her mother's jewels.
Duchess of Parma, Louise of France, Duchess of Parma, Robert I (1848-1907), The Last Ruling Duke of Parma.
They have been privately owned by ever since.
Wednesday's Bourbon-Parma also includes Charles X, including a diamond tiara; jewels from empress Marie Therese of Austria – Marie Antoinette's Mother – Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, who died in 1916.
The tiara lily flower, made in 1912, contains diamonds from the collection of Charles X., Marie Antoinette's brother-in-law, who died in 1836. It is estimated at US $ 350,000-550,000.
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