Jean Ghika
Global Head of Jewellery
Lot 89
BELLE ÉPOQUE SEED PEARL AND DIAMOND-SET NECKLACE, CIRCA 1905
7 December 2023, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £5,120 inc. premium
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Jennifer Tonkin
Co-Head of Department UK
Jewellery (EU)
Jewellery (UK)
Jewellery Condition Reports (UK)
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BELLE ÉPOQUE SEED PEARL AND DIAMOND-SET NECKLACE, CIRCA 1905
Each pear-shaped diamond drop suspended from an old brilliant-cut diamond surmount, via seed pearl linking, between similarly-set overlapping ribbon motifs, connected via swags of seed pearl linking, on a seed pearl backchain, mounted in platinum, millegrain detail throughout, diamonds approximately 2.00 carats total, length 37.7cm
Footnotes
Provenance:
Countess Haig (1879–1939), wife of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE (1861-1928); thence by descent
On leave from India, Haig married the Hon Dorothy Maud Vivian on 11th July 1905 after a whirlwind courtship (she had spotted him for the first time when he was playing polo at Hurlingham two years earlier). Dorothy was a daughter of Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian and Louisa Duff. The couple had four children, Lady Alexandra Henrietta Louisa Haig (1907-1997), Lady Victoria Doris Rachel Haig (1908–1993), George Alexander Eugene Douglas Haig, 2nd Earl Haig (1918-2009) and Lady Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Haig (1919-2001).
The Earl Haig Fund first sold poppies throughout Britain in 1921 to raise money in support of ex-servicemen and the families of those who had died in the conflict. In 1922, the British Legion founded a factory to produce its own and continues to do so today. In 1926, Countess Haig established 'Lady Haig's Poppy Factory', which has been making poppies and supporting veterans since its founding, and notably employed veterans disabled by war during its early years.
