As a consequence of the sale of the emerald and diamond tiara, we were approached by a private European collector for our advice with regard to the magnificent emerald and diamond necklace with drop earrings en suite (as illustrated), commissioned by the Emperor Napoleon from the Maison Nitot in 1810 to celebrate his marriage to Marie-Louise of Habsburg-Austria, the niece of Marie-Antoinette.
Once again, we were able to effect a sale to the Louvre of a really remarkable set of jewellery, set with probably the greatest range of old mine emeralds we have ever seen, in this case for a world record price for an item of historic jewellery to an institution, and the suite sits alongside the Bapst tiara in France’s national collection.