A diamond-set brooch featuring a portrait of a young Queen Victoria as is set to dazzle antique jewellery lovers at auction in December.
The item, which bears the queen’s royal cipher to the reverse, was presented to a Maid of Honour. The queen’s portrait has deteriorated but her youthful beauty is still evident. The portrait is framed in a surround fit for a queen – 15 round old European cut diamonds, 3mm in diameter, and a further 16 1mm diamonds. The item, lot 44, estimate £1,000-£2,000, will be offered on December 9 in Hansons’ Oxfordshire Fine Art and Antiques Auction.
Victoria (1819 -1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and seven months was longer than that of any previous British monarch and is known as the Victorian era.
The brooch is one of more than 500 items in a sale brimming with fascinating finds. Other highlights include:
Lot 379 | Queen Victoria Coin
Queen Victoria comes to the fore again thanks to her elegant appearance on a Victoria Proof Gothic Crown which dates back nearly 200 years to 1847. The Gothic crown of Victoria is regarded as being a particularly beautiful coin in the English Series thanks to its fine design. £2,500-£3,500
Lot 268 | Gift awash with history
A George V silver and pink guilloche enamel paper knife and writing companion, made in London in 1920, boast impressive historical pedigree. The presentation blade is inscribed ‘Mr A E Stelp. With affectionate regard from the present members of the Piccadilly staff 9/2/20 – 9/2/30.’ To add to the provenance, the cylindrical handle encloses a telescopic propelling pencil with a seal terminal bearing Stelp’s initials. Adolph Edward Alexander Stelp was born in Russia in 1869. After fleeing from Russia and settling in England, he formed steamship firm of Stelp and Leighton Ltd. The knife was a gift to the vendor by Jennifer Stelp, the widow of Richard, Alexander’s son. £600-£800
Lot 240 | Italian School offering
Paintings with historical pedigree tend to excel at auction and this 17th century Italian School example of a mother cradling an infant could surprise under the hammer. The oils on alabaster panel mesaures 19.5 x 13cm. £1000-£1,500
Lot 174 | James Bond firsts galore
Book collectors and James Bond fans alike may flock to bid on a host of Ian Fleming first editions found in a storage unit in Towcester. They include For Your Eyes Only, First Edition 1960; You Only Live Twice, First edition 1964; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, First Edition 1963; The Man With The Golden Gun, first Edition 1965 – all with dust jackets. The set also includes Goldfinger, First edition 1959 and Dr No, First edition 1958 without dust jackets. £300-£400
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