A collection of jewelry once belonging to Marie Antoinette is set to be auctioned by Christie's in New York. The pieces, estimated to fetch between $3 and $5 million, offer a rare glimpse into the life of the ill-fated French queen.
The collection includes items from Marie Antoinette's personal collection, which she secretly sent away for safekeeping during the French Revolution. The pieces were then passed down through generations of her family.
Among the items is a diamond necklace and a pair of earrings, as well as other significant pieces. The auction is expected to draw significant interest from collectors and history enthusiasts alike.
In 1996, after more than a century of the royal family's jewelry being kept in the Bourbon-Parma family, a portion of the collection was sold in Geneva, including a pearl necklace with an emerald pendant, which was sold to the Japanese Imperial Family.
Three years later, Marie Antoinette's collection was sold to the jewelry magnate, Ronald Winston, the son of Harry Winston, the American jewelry mogul.
According to Rahul Kadakia, the head of the jewelry department at Christie's, the collection is "a unique combination of royal, historical, and artistic significance." He added that the collection is "a living testament to European history."
Following these expectations, Marie Antoinette's collection was sold in 2021, and a pair of Marie Antoinette's earrings were sold for $8.2 million, which is three times the estimated value.