Live Auction 18373Important Jewels
ANTIQUE NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE
Lot 228 PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF GLORIA, THE LATE DOWAGER COUNTESS BATHURST

ANTIQUE NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE

Closed30 July 2020

Price Realised

GBP 40,000

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ANTIQUE NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE
Composed of 39 natural pearls measuring 6.4 - 8.4mm, pear shaped and old-cut diamonds, silver and gold, 18th century and later, 38.8 cm
Gem & Pearl Laboratory, 2020, report no. 18538: natural pearls, saltwater

By family tradition these pearls were given by Queen Anne to Catherine Apsley (1688- 1768), wife of Allen Bathurst (1684-1775), created 1st Baron Bathurst in 1712 and subsequently 1st Earl Bathurst in 1772. Allen Bathurst’s father, Sir Benjamin Bathurst (c.1639-1704) held numerous positions at court from 1682, culminating in his appointment as Her Majesty’s Cofferer of the Household in 1702, his wife Frances Apsley (1653-1727) was an intimate friend of both Queen Mary (1662-1694) and her sister, Queen Anne (1665-1714), having served as Maid of Honour when they were princesses.

Specialist note

This necklace has always been revered as a Bathurst family heirloom and as such was depicted in both Thomas Gainsborough’s painting of Tryphena, Countess Bathurst (d. 1807) and Sir James Jebusa Shannon’s painting of Lilias, Countess Bathurst (1871-1965) (illustrated, lot 127 in the collection sale).