Origin of name
La Regente Pearl
The "La Regente Pearl" also known as the "La Perle Napoleon" which
originally weighed 346.27 grains (337 old grains), is the 5th largest pearl
in the world and perhaps the largest pearl of a regular shape, and was given
as a gift by Emperor Napoleon I to his second wife and Queen Consort Marie
Louise in 1811, as the centerpiece of a pearl tiara, which was the main
component of a complete pearl parure. The pearl was subsequently dismantled
and set as the centerpiece of a diamond and pearl corsage on the request of
Eugenie de Montijo, the wife and Queen consort of Napoleon III in the year
1853. This extraordinary pearl with a combination of desirable
characteristics had not been given a particular name since it was acquired
by Napoleon I in 1811 from the French Crown Jeweler Francois Regnault
Nitot. The inventories of the French Crown Jewels described the pearl
without a name as "a very large pear-shaped pearl, in the form of an egg,
flat at the back, and very beautiful orient at the front." The first
time the name "La Regente" was used for the pearl was in the year 1887, when
in a catalogue published in preparation for the historic auction of the
French Crown Jewels as recommended by the Parliament of the 3rd Republic,
the pearl was mistakenly or deliberately referred to as the "La Regente" in
spite of the fact that another celebrated and historic jewel in the French
Crown Jewels, the 140.64 carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond of
Indian origin, also bore the same name. The diamond was actually known as
"Le Regent" (the Regent Diamond), and the experts who prepared the catalogue
had perhaps given the name "La Regente" deliberately to be analogous with
the name of the diamond. The 140.64-carat "Le Regent Diamond" was the
largest diamond in the French Crown Jewels, and perhaps the experts who
prepared the catalogue decided to give the largest pearl in the collection a
name that rhymes with the name of the largest diamond. Hence the name "La
Regente."
Perhaps there was another justification for the use of the name "La Regente"
by the experts. This was that both empresses who made use of the pearl,
Marie Louise, as the centerpiece of a pearl tiara and Eugenie de Montijo, as a corsage,
acted as regents in the absence of their husbands. Marie Louise acted as
regent in the year 1813, in the absence of her husband Napoleon I, during his
campaign in Germany. Eugenie de Montijo acted as regent in 1870, in the
absence of her husband Napoleon III, who was engaged in the disastrous
campaign also coincidentally in Germany.
La Perle Napoleon
Germain Bapst, who once served as the crown jeweler of France, in his
book "Historie des Joyaux de la Couronne de France" (History of the Crown
Jewels of France), published in 1889, criticized the use of the name "La
Regente" for the pearl by the so-called experts who prepared the catalogue.
When Prince Yusupov of Russia, who subsequently acquired the pearl, himself wrote to the French Administration of State
Properties seeking clarification and more information on the celebrated
pearl, he was told that nothing justified the use of the name "La Regente"
for the pearl, since it was purchased by Napoleon I in 1811, unlike the "Le
Regent" Diamond which was purchased by the duke d'Orleans Philippe II, the
Regent of France, for the young King Louis XV from 1715 to 1723, in whose
memory the diamond has been named. It was for
this reason that Bernard Morel in his book "Les Joyaux de la Couronne
de France" (The Crown Jewels of France), published in 1988, referred to this
pearl as "La Perle Napoleon" instead of "La Regente", a name that appeared
to be in conformity with known historical facts.
Characteristics of the Pearl
The most expensive single pearl in the world
today
The La Regente Pearl is an extraordinary pearl having a combination of all
the desirable characteristics as prescribed by the GIA in valuing pearls,
known as the seven pearl value factors, viz. size, shape, color, luster,
surface quality, nacre quality, and (matching). A combination of outstanding
characteristics such as very large size, a perfect drop shape, and superior
color and luster has made the La Regente Pearl, the most expensive single
pearl in the world today, fetching a record price of $2.5 million (2.1
million euro, £1.6 million) at a magnificent jewels
sale at Christie's in Geneva in November 2005.
The largest natural regular
shaped pearl in the world
The original weight of the pearl as recorded in 1811,
when it was first purchased by Napoleon I for 40,000 gold francs, from the
French Crown Jeweler Francois-Regnault Nitot, was equal to of 337 old
grains, equivalent to 346.27 grains, making it one of the largest natural
pearls in the world and the biggest natural regular shaped pearl in the
world. However the present weight of the pearl has decreased to 302.68
grains, possibly due to pealing and re-polishing as certified by the Gubelin
Gem Lab, sometimes during the course of its long history. Even in spite of
the reduction in weight of 43.59 grains, the pearl still retains the record
as the largest natural regular shaped pearl in the world, but overall it is
considered as the 5th largest pearl in the world today.
The shape of the pearl
The shape of the pearl has been variously described as
pigeon-egg shaped, oval shaped, drop shaped and pear shaped, all of which
essentially refer to the same symmetrical shape. However, as described in
the inventories of the French Crown Jewels of 1814, 1832 and 1875, the pearl
has a flat surface at the back, a characteristic feature that helped to
identify the pearl after it was purported to be lost in 1917 during the
October Bolshevik revolution, but surprisingly re-appeared in 1987 at a
Christie's sale in New York. Comparison of the shape of the pearl with the
image of the pearl appearing in the 1887 auction catalogue also confirmed
this identification. In keeping with its drop-shape the pearl was used
variously throughout its history, as the centerpiece of a pearl tiara, the
centerpiece of a corsage, pendant to a pearl sautoir, hair ornament, pendant
to a necklace and centerpiece of a modern two-part natural pearl necklace
also incorporating diamonds and sapphires.
Color and luster of the pearl
The pearl has a rare and desirable silvery white color
which was also responsible for enhancing its value. But it is luster that
brings life to a pearl producing the shine and brilliance generated by a
spectacular inner glow. The luster of the La Regente Pearl is exceptional
indicative of a thick layer of high quality nacre that had preserved its
silvery white luster for around 200 years. The surface quality of the pearl
also appears to be exceptional having an unblemished surface free of dark
spots. The perfect surface texture imparts a beautiful and homogenous
luster to the pearl.
Early History of the Pearl
The source of the pearl
The history of the pearl prior to the purchase by Napoleon Bonaparte on
September 28, 1811 is uncertain, but it was believed that the pearl was a
recent discovery, acquired by the jeweler Francois Regnault Nitot with a
view of executing an order for a pearl parure by his emperor, to be
presented to his Queen Consort Marie Louise. The source of the pearl however
is not known, but around this time the main producing areas of pearls in the
world were the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea in the Middle East and the Gulf
of Mannar in Sri Lanka, the traditional pearl producing region that was the
hub of the world's pearl markets for over 4,000 years. Thus the La Regente
Pearl would have originated in any one of these traditional pearl producing
areas, and eventually found its way to Bombay in India, the nerve center of
the gem and jewelry trade in Asia at that time, from where it would have
been purchased by agents who exported pearls regularly to the London and
Paris markets.
Napoleon Bonaparte lavishes jewelry worth
6,600,000 gold francs on his second wife Marie Louise
Napoleon Bonaparte was not only a brilliant soldier but also a great patron
of the arts. After he ascended the throne as the Emperor of France his court
acquired an atmosphere of utmost splendor and brilliance, that resulted from
the grandiose display of gems and precious stones. He lavished expensive
jewels and jewelry on his Queen Consort Empress Josephine, which also
included several expensive parures. But, unfortunately strains were placed
on their relationship as Josephine was not able to give him a son, who would
succeed him as the future emperor of Rome. Thus Napoleon was compelled to
divorce Josephine in the year 1810 and take a second wife,
Marie-Louise, the eldest daughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria and Maria
Theresa, and the niece of Marie-Antoinette. The grandeur and extravagance of
Napoleon's court reached a climax at the time of his second marriage to
Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, held on 2nd April 1810. The
extravagance of the occasion was described by Balzac in his book "La Paix du
Menage" as follows :- "Diamonds glittered everywhere, so much so that it
seemed as if the wealth of the whole world was concentrated on Paris.....
never had the diamond been so sought after, never had it cost so much."
Napoleon appointed one of the most experienced jewelers in Paris at the
time, Marie Etienne Nitot as the court jeweler. When Marie Etienne Nitot
died in 1809, he appointed his son Francois Regnault Nitot as his successor.
Both father and son helped Napoleon in reassembling the crown jewels
dispersed during the French Revolution, and to build up a new collection of
crown jewels. Francois Regnault Nitot was assigned the task of designing and
manufacturing magnificent pieces of jewelry that included several parures
which he lavished on Marie Louise at the time of her marriage and after. It
is on record that Napoleon gave an expensive emerald and diamond parure to
Marie-Louise as a wedding present in 1810, that was designed and
manufactured by Francois Regnault Nitot. Again on March 20, 1811, when
Marie-Louise gave birth to the long-awaited son and heir to the French
throne, the future King of Rome, Napoleon was so overjoyed that he presented
Marie-Louise with a 275-carat diamond necklace set with briolette diamonds,
which is today the proud possession of the NMNH of the Smithsonian
Institution.
After this more parures were lavished on Marie-Louise and by the end of year
1813 Napoleon had purchased jewelry up to the value of 6,600,000 gold francs
from Francois Regnault Nitot.
The La Regente Pearl is set as the
centerpiece of a pearl tiara
One of the parures that was given to Marie-Louise was a magnificent pearl
parure, whose main component was an exquisitely designed pearl tiara, set
with 297 pearls, weighing 4,097 metric grains, with a value of 219,547 gold
francs. The centerpiece of this pearl tiara was a large exceptional quality
drop-shaped silvery white pearl, weighing 337 old grains, equivalent to
346.27 grains, and which was priced at 40,000 gold francs, a relatively low
price for such an exceptional quality pearl. This was in keeping with
Nitot's low-pricing policy for the royalty, that earned him great prestige
and assured him a regular royal clientele.
The La Regente is reset on a new pearl tiara
by Evrard Bapst in 1820
After the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814, following his defeat by the
allied forces, Louis XVIII was installed as the ruler of a restored Bourbon
monarchy. He ruled France until his death in 1824, except for a short period
of 100 days in 1814, when Napoleon Bonaparte attempted to recapture his
empire. Louis XVIII had the crown jewels, enriched by Napoleon Bonaparte,
re-set by the crown jeweler Evrard Bapst. Marie-Louise's magnificent pearl
parure was also re-modeled, and the large drop-shaped pearl again re-set as
the centerpiece of a new tiara. The re-modeled parure was delivered to Louis
XVIII's court on July 20, 1820.
The new pearl tiara with the La Regente Pearl
is worn by Marie-Therese, duchesse d'Angouleme, and Marie-Caroline, duchesse
de Berry.
When Louis XVIII died in 1824, he was succeeded by his brother Charles
Philippe, the Comte D'artois, who assumed the title Charles X. He ruled
France until his abdication in 1830, in the aftermath of the July 1830
revolution. Both Louis XVIII and his brother Charles X were widowers, and
during this period most of the crown jewelry including the parures were made
use of by the wives of two of the sons of Charles X, Marie-Therese, the wife
of Louis-Antoine, the duc d'Angouleme and the Dauphine of France, and
Marie-Caroline, wife of Duc de Berry, the second son of the king, who was
assassinated in 1820.
Proposal to dispose of the French crown
jewels in 1848, that never materialized
Charles X abdicated on August 2, 1830, but two days before his abdication
the antagonistic legislature had already elected Louis Philippe as the
Lieutenant General of the kingdom. On August 9, 1830, Louis Philippe
accepted the crown of France, and was titled Louis-Philippe, king of the
French. Louis Philippe ruled France from 1830 to 1848, when he abdicated
after the overthrow of the constitutional monarchy following the revolution
of 1848, and the proclamation of the second republic. During the reign of
Louis Philippe the crown jewels were not worn, however, in the immediate
aftermath of the 1848 revolution, a proposal was made for the sale of all
the crown jewels of France, which fortunately did not materialize, and the
crown jewels remained in the safe custody of the treasury.
The La Regente Pearl is set as the
centerpiece of a pearl and diamond corsage at the request of Eugenie de Montijo
Louis Napoleon, the son of Louis Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon
Bonaparte, who was living in exile in Britain, returned to France in 1848,
and contested the presidential elections under the new republican
constitution, and was elected by a landslide victory, polling 5.5 million
votes, as against 2 million votes for all other candidates combined. After
ruling France as President of the 2nd republic for 4 years, until 1852, he
decreed a new constitution that was approved by a plebiscite, and held
another plebiscite that confirmed him as the absolute ruler of the second
empire of France, as Emperor Napoleon III. He married countess Eugenie de
Montijo, the daughter of a Spanish nobleman in January 1853. Napoleon III
gave France two decades of prosperity under a stable authoritarian
government. After her marriage to Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie de Montijo,
transformed most of the crown jewels of France, into new settings, to suit
her own taste. Empress Eugenie got Gabriel Lemonnier, the crown jeweler to
dismantle the 346.27 grain enormous pearl bought by Napoleon I in 1811, from
its tiara, and re-set it as the centerpiece of a magnificent pearl and
diamond corsage in the style of the early 19th century, a naturalistic style
that used the language of flowers.
The newly designed pearl and diamond corsage
based on the 1853 Lemonnier corsage
The original pearl and diamond corsage designed by Lemonnier does not exist
today, but images of the corsage that appeared in the 1887 auction catalogue
of the French crown jewels are available. The buyer of the La Regente Pearl
after its sudden reappearance in 1987 at a Christie's auction in New York,
identified the pearl as La Regente, and got it re-set in its original form,
based on the image of the Lemonnier corsage.
Please click here for image of the 1987 corsage.
The diamond and pearl corsage or brooch based on a perfectly
symmetrical floral design is set on silver and gold. The centerpiece of the
brooch is the "La Regente Pearl" surmounted by an acanthus leaf design set
with old-cut diamonds. Two more drop-shaped smaller pearls are also placed
in the corsage below the "La Regente" in the same vertical line. Two other
matching pairs of pearls are also placed symmetrically on either side of the
vertical line of symmetry. Thus altogether there are seven drop-shaped
pearls in the corsage. Two other matching large almost round shaped pearls
are placed symmetrically on either side of the "La Regente." 33 other pearls
are placed in symmetrical positions on the corsage, giving a total of 42
pearls including the "La Regente." Numerous other matching old rose-cut
diamonds are placed in symmetrical positions on either side of the median
line. This exquisitely designed corsage is a typical example of a 19th
century piece of jewelry popular during the Napoleonic era.
The fall of Napoleon III and the escape of
Empress Eugenie to England
During the brilliant court life of the second empire, Empress Eugenie made
use of the re-set French crown jewels to the maximum, to project her
image as the befitting queen of a mighty emperor. She and her husband
Napoleon III, were also responsible for enriching the crown jewels of
France, by acquiring several newly designed pieces of jewelry. After the
fall of Napoleon III following his defeat by the Germans in the
Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, Empress Eugenie and her son escaped to
Britain, where they were granted asylum by Queen Victoria. She also carried
with her most of her personal jewelry and perhaps some pieces of crown
jewels too. But, the Lemonnier corsage remained in the safe custody of the
royal treasury in France. Napoleon III joined Empress Eugenie in England
after he was released by the Germans. In the meantime France had proclaimed
her third republic. During the Prussian invasion of France in 1870, the
crown jewels were moved to the town of Brest in northwestern France, for
safe keeping. In 1872, the jewels were brought back to Paris, and kept in
the safe vaults of the Ministry of Finance.
The French crown jewels go on display at the
1878 Paris Exhibition and at the Louvre Museum in 1884
The French crown jewels were put out on display for the first time in 1878,
during the International Paris Exhibition, and came under the scrutiny of an
international audience, who were truly amazed by the extravagance of the
collection, put together by the monarchs of the House of Bourbon and the
emperors of the House of Napoleon. Again in the year 1884, the Louvre Museum
of Paris, organized an exposition of the French crown jewels, in aid of the
School of Industrial Arts, which turned out to be a tremendous success.
The National Assembly of the third republic
decides to get rid of all decadent royal symbols including the French crown
jewels
The national assembly of the third republic of France, after much debate
finally decided to get rid of all decadent royal symbols, including the
priceless collection of crown jewels, in order to forestall any future
dictator or monarch, who might try to restore the old order, inspired by
these decadent symbols of royal authority. Based on the unanimous decision
of the national assembly, Francois Paul Jules Grevy, President of the 3rd
republic ordered the sale of the crown jewels of France by public auction,
between May 12 and 23, 1887, but provision was also made for the
preservation of any piece of jewelry of cultural and historic value.
Accordingly, the Administration of State Properties issued an auction
catalogue depicting actual size photographs of the most important pieces,
that was widely circulated around the jewelry capitals of the world, such as
London, New York, Paris, St. Petersburg etc. Among them was the renowned
pearl and diamond corsage with the 346.27-grain silvery white drop-shaped
pearl as its centerpiece, which was for the first time referred to as the
"La Regente Pearl" by the experts who prepared the catalogue. The corsage
was assigned as lot number 42 in the sale.
The La Regente Pearl Corsage is purchased by
Carl Faberge, jewelers to the Russian Crown
The auction attracted international attention and was attended by jewelry
houses of international fame, such as Tiffany's, Van Cleef & Arpels, etc.
and renowned Parisian jewelers like Frederic Boucheron, and Paul Bapst.
Tiffany's of New York turned out to be the most successful bidder,
purchasing 24 of the 69 lots that was lined up for the sale. A total of
around 6 million gold francs was realized from the historic sale. At the
auction Carl Faberge of Russia was represented by their agent Jacques Rossel,
who was under specific instructions to bid for lot no. 42 that included the
pearl and diamond corsage containing the "La Regente Pearl," and accordingly
Jacques Rossel successfully bid for lot 42, the hammer being brought down at
a sum of 176,000 gold
francs. Before the auction Faberge had shown the auction catalogue to Prince
Nikolai Borisovich Yusupov (1827-1891), head of the Yusupov aristocratic
family, which in terms of status and wealth was only second to the Imperial
family of Russia. The Yusupov family also had a fabulous jewelry collection
which was only second to that of the Imperial family. Prince Nikolai
Borisovich Yusupov married Countess Tatiana Alexandrovna (1828-1875), by
whom he had only one daughter, Princess Zinaida Nikolaievna Yusupova
(1861-1939), who succeeded him after his death, as the head of the Yusupov
family. Prince Nikolai B. Yusupov was a patron of the arts and a collector
and connoisseur of art works that included paintings, sculptures, musical
instruments like violins, jewels and jewelry. He is reputed to have
purchased the famous 35.27-carat grayish-blue diamond, the Sultan of
Morocco.
Carl Faberge resells the "La Regente Pearl"
to Prince Nikolai B. Yusupov after remounting it on a pendant
When Faberge had shown him the auction catalogue, he had expressed an
interest in purchasing lot no. 42, particularly because it incorporated the
largest regular shaped pearl in the world, the 346.27-grain silvery white
drop shaped pearl, which was known as the "La Regente Pearl." Prince Nikolai
B. Yusupov's intention was to purchase the enormous pearl and give it as a
gift to his only daughter and successor Princess Zinaida.
Princess Zinaida Yusupov wearing the La Pelegrina Pearl as a head ornament
surmounted by the La Regente Pearl
After purchasing the corsage, Faberge dismounted the "La Regente Pearl" from
its setting, and remounted it as the centerpiece of a pendant which also
included an Imperial Russian Crown set with diamonds, and sold it to Prince
Nikolai B. Yusupov. Around this time the corsage had gone out of fashion.
Faberge used the remaining parts of the corsage, including pearls and
diamonds to turn out other jewels.
Prince Nikolai B. Yusupov gave the "La Regente Pearl" to Princess Zinaida,
who wore it as a pendant to a long pearl sautoir, and sometimes as a head
ornament surmounting the "La Pelegrina Pearl."
Princess Zinaida Yusupov of Russia wearing the pearl sautoir with the la-regente
pearl
Princess Zinaida gives the "La Regente Pearl"
to her son Prince Felix, who gifts it to his bride Princess Irina
Princess Zinaida (1861-1939) who was considered a legendary beauty married
Count Felixovich Sumarokov (1856-1928), who was appointed the Governor
General of Moscow in 1914, and by whom she had a son, Prince Felix Yusupov
II. Princess Zinaida gave the "La Regente Pearl" to her son, in
anticipation of his marriage in 1914 to Princess Irina, a granddaughter
of Czar Alexander III, and a niece of Czar Nicholas II, in 1914. The Prince
gave the magnificent pearl as a wedding gift to his bride Princess Irina
Alexandrovna.
Prince Felix Yusupov flees Russia with some
of his precious belongings but leaves behind the "La Regente Pearl" hidden
inside a wall of the Yusupov Palace
Prince Felix Yusupov, the last in line of the Yusupov aristocratic family,
became notorious for his involvement in the murder of Rasputin, the mad
monk, just before the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. The Prince who was found
guilty was exiled to the Crimea, but returned to St. Petersburg in 1917,
soon after the February uprisings, and found the city in a state of chaos
and disorder. He decided to leave Russia immediately to the safety of a
neighboring European country. He collected some of his most precious
belongings, that included some valuable paintings, a collection of expensive
pearl jewelry that also included the "La Pelegrina Pearl," some famous
diamonds that included the "Sultan of Morocco diamond," the "Polar Star
diamond," and the "Ram's Head diamond," and Marie Antoinette's diamond ear
pendants. He hid the rest of the fabulous collection of the Yusupov jewelry
that included the "La Regente Pearl" in a wall of the Yusupov Palace at St.
Petersburg, hoping one day to return to Russia, when the situation
normalized. He then left Russia in August 1917 and settled down in Paris.
The Bolsheviks discover the hidden jewelry in
the Yusupov Palace, at St. Petersburg
In the immediate aftermath of the October Bolshevik Revolution, the
abandoned palaces of the Imperial and aristocratic families were
meticulously searched for valuable items like jewelry, that could have been
hidden in the palaces by members of these families, before attempting a quick
get away from the approaching Bolshevik cadres. The Bolsheviks discovered
the jewelry items hidden inside the wall of the Yusupov Palace. They laid
out all the jewels on a table, photographed them and prepared an inventory
of all the Yusupov jewels.
The jewels of the Russian Crown and the
aristocratic families were partly sold outright, partly pledged or partly
preserved as items of historical and cultural importance
It is not known exactly what happened to the Yusupov jewels after this.
Perhaps they were pooled together with the Russian Crown Jewels that were
discovered in the underground vaults of the Kremlin in the 1920s, where they
were transferred for safe keeping from the vaults of the diamond chamber in
the Winter Palace at St. Petersburg, just before the onset of World War I in
1914. The crown jewels discovered in 1922, were stored in nine huge strong
boxes, in the recesses of the Moscow Armory Hall. The Communist Government
of Russia headed by V. I. Lenin, ordered the inventorying and photographing
of all the crown jewels. The task that took almost 4 months was conducted by
five leading jewelers of Russia, under the guidance and supervision of
renowned mineralogist Prof. A. E. Fersman, assisted by the director of the
Hermitage Museum S. N. Troinitzky and a renowned art critic and painter A.
N. Benois. After finishing its work the committee of jewelry experts
published an illustrated inventory in 1925, that was titled "Russia's
Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones."
Purchase of a significant part of the Russian
Crown Jewels dating from the 18th century by a consortium of British and
American buyers
After the October Bolshevik Revolution, the young Russian Socialist Republic
founded by V. I. Lenin was running short of funds and were forced to look
for ways and means of raising funds in the international financial markets.
One of the desperate measures adopted by the new government was the outright
sale of a significant part of the Russian Crown Jewels, which perhaps also
included the Yusupov jewels collection, which was only second to the crown
jewel collection in terms of quantity, quality and monetary value. A
consortium of British and American buyers whose identity had been withheld
were the first to benefit from the sales of the Russian Crown Jewels.
Subsequently 119 pieces of the crown jewels purchased by this syndicate were
offered for sale at a Christie's auction held in London on March 16, 1927,
and was snapped up by museums and collectors of jewels from around the
world. This unique auction by Christie's was titled "An Important
Assemblage of Magnificent Jewelry, mostly dating from the 18th century,
which formed part of the Russian State Jewels."
Thus, even though we do not have a detailed breakdown of all the Russian
Crown Jewels sold at this auction, the title of the auction is a clear
indication of the significance of the items sold, which were mostly jewels
originating from the 18th century. This period in the history of Russia was
one of its greatest periods, that saw the reign of three of the greatest
Romanov monarchs, Peter I the Great (1682-1725), Elizabeth (1741-1761) and
Catherine II the Great (1762-1796). These monarchs, besides their
contribution to the greatness of the Russian empire, were also great patrons
of the art, and collectors and connoisseurs of jewels and jewelry. In fact
the initiation of the Russian Crown Jewels collection is attributed to Peter
I the Great, who is credited with establishing the Diamond Chamber in the
Winter Palace of St. Petersburg in 1719, to house the Russian Crown Jewels
that were the property of the Russian State, as distinct from the personal
jewels of the Romanov rulers. He further decreed that all future Romanov
rulers should leave a certain number of pieces to the Russian State, for the
greater glory of the Russian Empire. Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II
the Great, also left a significant quantity of jewels and jewelry to the
Russian State.
Pledging of part of the Russian Crown Jewels
to secure a loan from the Irish Republic
In the immediate aftermath of the October Revolution the young Russian
Republic also sought a loan of $25,000 from the Irish Republic using part of
the Russian Crown Jewels as collateral. The transaction took place in New
York City, between Ludwig Martens, the head of the Soviet Bureau, who was
the Soviet Ambassador to America and T. D. Harry Boland, the Irish
Ambassador to the United States. When Boland returned to Ireland after his
diplomatic assignment, he kept the crown jewels in the house of his mother
Kathleen Boland O'Donovan, in the city of Dublin, during the period of the
Irish War of Independance. Boland who fought on the side of the Irish
Republicns, left clear instructions with his mother that the Russian Crown
Jewels should be left hidden from the Irish Free State, until the return to
power of the Irish Republicans. Boland died during the Battle of Dublin, and
Kathleen Boland returned the Russian Crown Jewels to the Irish Government
only in 1938, when the country was under the rule of de Valera, a
republican. The Russian Crown Jewels were then placed in a safe vault in the
government treasury, and then forgotten for the next 10 years, until 1948.
In the year 1948, the jewels were rediscovered at the time of the government
led by John A. Costello. A proposal was put forward for the sale of the
crown jewels by public auction in London. While the government of Ireland
was considering the merits of this proposal, legal opinion was sort on
status of the crown jewels. In the meantime negotiations were also conducted
with the Ambassador of the Soviet Union to the Irish Republic, and the
Government of Ireland finally decided that the Russian Crown Jewels
rightfully belonged to the Soviet Union being an integral part of its great
cultural heritage, and made preparations for their return to the rightful
owners. As part of the deal that was negotiated, the Soviet Union paid back
the sum of $25,000 that was obtained as loan from the Irish Government in
1920, in respect of which the crown jewels were left as collateral. Finally
in the year 1950, after a period of 30 years, the pledged crown jewels of
Russia returned to Moscow and became part of the State Diamond Fund created
after the revolution.
New York Times report of January 16, 1922
relevant to the pledging of some of the Russian Crown Jewels
Two newspaper reports relevant to the Russian Crown Jewels appeared in the
New York Times, of January 16, 1922. According to one
report which originated from the New York Times correspondent in Berlin, the
Crown Jewels of Russia had been pawned to one Hugo Stinnes, for 60% of their
estimated value, an amount that had been kept secret. Stinnes was reported
to have received the jewels from a Russian representative in Berlin.
The report goes on to give details of history of a particular famous diamond
known as the Orloff diamond valued at £240,000 which
had adorned the Imperial scepter, and which was said to be among the jewels
pledged. This is the second credible report of the pawning of the Russia
Crown Jewels, and obviously refers to only a part of the crown jewels, other
parts being pledged to the Government of the Republic of Ireland or sold
outright to a syndicate of British and American buyers.
A second report appearing on
the same issue of the New York Times refers to the saving of some crown
jewels by Prince Felix Yusupoff
According to this report appearing immediately after the above news item,
part of the Russian Crown Jewels, which obviously refers to the Yusupoff
collection, that included the famous black pearl necklace, valued at
£80,000, was saved by Prince Yusupoff, the
slayer of Rusputin. The report also refers to the loss of some jewels valued
at £15,000 from his flat in the West End when he
visited London, about two years ago, and the burial of many jewels in
his palace at St. Petersburg in Russia, which he could not carry along with
him in his hurried escape from Russia, after the revolution.
Modern History of the La
Regente Pearl
The La Regente Pearl comes up for auction at
Christie's New York in 1987
The history of the La Regente Pearl after the October Bolshevik Revolution
is uncertain. Without any doubt the pendant containing the La Regente Pearl,
that also incorporated the Romanov coat-of-arms, the Imperial Russian Crown,
set with diamonds, was sold by the Bolsheviks as described earlier. But, the
period during which the pendant was sold, and the persons who acquired the
pendant are not known. However, it is now clear that the pendant containing
the pearl had been acquired by an anonymous family in 1950, and had remained
with them until 1987, when it appeared at a Christie's auction in New York,
on June 16, 1987, being sold as lot no. 385. The family who owned the pearl
for 37 years, was not aware of its historical provenance, as evident from
the presentation of the pearl in the auction catalogue, which only mentioned
its Russian origin, but without giving the name or weight of the pearl. The
evidence for the Russian provenance was the Imperial Russian Crown,
incorporated in the pendant. However, the pendant itself was suspended from
a delicate tour-de-cou, set with 18 brilliant-cut colored diamonds.
The La Regente Pearl is identified by the
buyer of the pearl in 1987
The buyer of the 302.68-grain pearl at the Christie's auction in New York in
1987, was the first to identify the La Regente Pearl after its disappearance
following the October revolution. The factors that helped him identify the
pearl are as follows :-
1) The incorporation of the Imperial Russian Crown in the pendant that
carried the enormous pearl.
2) The general shape of the pearl as compared with images of the pearl
presented in the auction catalogue of 1887.
3) A flat surface at the back of the pearl which is consistent with the
description of the pearl in the inventories of the French Crown Jewels of
1814, 1832 and 1875.
4) Evidence of peeling of the pearl as certified by the Gubelin Gem Lab,
which accounts for the loss of 43.59 grains from the original weight of 346.27
grains, giving a new weight of 302.68 grains.
The buyer of the La Regente Pearl in 1987
resets it in a pearl and diamond corsage similar in design to the 1853
Lemonier corsage
The anonymous buyer of the La Regente Pearl in 1987, after its
identification, and being very well aware about its historical provenance,
decided to reset the famous pearl in a diamond and pearl corsage, in
accordance with the same design executed by Gabriel Lemonier, the crown
jeweler, for Empress Eugenie de Montijo in 1853. Please refer to the
photograph above for the 1987 corsage setting.
The La Regente Pearl mounted in its corsage
is again sold in 1988 at Christie's Geneva
The anonymous buyer of the La Regente Pearl in 1987, resold the pearl again
in 1988. This time the sale was at a Christie's auction in Geneva, held on
May 12, 1988, and fetched a record price of $860,000. Apparently, the
resetting of the pearl in accordance with its ancient design, seem to have
had its desired effect, boosting the value of the pearl. The pearl was for
the first time auctioned under the name "La Regente" after its loss
following the Bolshevik revolution, and was apparently purchased by an
anonymous Middle Eastern family.
The new owners of the renowned pearl, apparently not satisfied with the
mid-19th century corsage setting of the pearl, again reset it, as the
centerpiece of an elaborate five-stranded pearl necklace, that also
incorporated diamonds and blue sapphires. The modern natural pearl necklace
was made of two parts, a lower 5-stranded natural pearl necklace, suspended
from an elaborate blue sapphire, diamond and pearl breast-piece, covering
the entire bodice, set with the "La Regente" at its center. This elaborate
necklace that probably belonged to an oil-sheik of the Middle East,
consisted of 2,500 carats of pearls, and a thousand carats of diamonds and
sapphires, and had an estimated value of $1.5 - 2.0 million.
© Christie's
La Regente Pearl mounted on a modern pearl, sapphire and diamond necklace
The La Regente Pearl is sold at an auction at
Christie's Geneva, in 2005 for a record sum of $2.5 million
The Middle Eastern family who acquired the "La Regente Pearl" in 1988,
and modified its setting, put it up for auction at a magnificent jewels sale
of Christie's held in Geneva, on November 16, 2005. The pre-sale estimate of
the "La Regente Pearl" alone without the necklace was placed between
$500,000 to $800,000, and the value of the pearl, sapphire and diamond
necklace was estimated between $1.5 - 2.0 million. However the pearl
realized a value beyond everybody's expectations, almost three times the
highest estimate placed on it before the auctions. The pearl sold for 3.27
million francs, equivalent to $2.5 million or £1.6
million or 2.1 million euros. This represents the highest price ever
realized by a single pearl at an auction in the world, and thus the
"La Regente Pearl" which holds the position as the 5th largest pearl in the
world, has become the most expensive in history. The pearl sold by the
anonymous Middle Eastern family was purchased by an anonymous buyer in
Geneva. believed to be of Asian origin. The auction which featured 280 lots
netted a total of $38.5 million, and the most expensive jewel in the
collection, was a crown set with diamonds that sold for $6.1 million.
The Director of Christie's, Switzerland, Eric Valdieu,
said after the historic auction, "We would never have achieved the price
for the pearl if it had not had Napoleonic provenance."
Related :-
1)
Regent Diamond
2)
Emerald and Diamond Parure of Marie Louise Empress of France
3) Pearl of
Allah/ Pearl of Lao Tzu
4)
Arco Valley Pearl
5)
La Pelegrina Pearl
6)
La Peregrina Pearl
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References
1.Bangkok Gems and Jewelry - Thailand's International
Journal of the Gem & Jewelry Industry - Vol. 19 No. 3 - October 2005.
2.Famous
Pearls And Collections - The Book of the Pearl - Kunz
3.Crown
Jewels to go under the hammer - Independent, The (London), October 12, 2005.
4.La
Regente - La Perle Napoleon - Les Joyaux de la Couronne de France - Bernard
Morel (1988)
5.Imperial Crown of Russia - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
6.Russian
Crown Jewels Pledged to Stinnes, pawned for 60% of value, Berlin hears - The
New York Times, Jan. 16, 1922
7.Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2006
