Editor’s Note
This week, Sotheby’s in Cologne is previewing a remarkable collection of royal jewelry, unseen for a century, ahead of its November auction in Geneva.
Cologne
Under the title “Vienna 1900: An Imperial and Royal Collection,” an unusual jewelry collection was hosted this week at the Sotheby’s auction house in Cologne’s Palais Oppenheim. The collection, which has not been publicly displayed for nearly a century, is currently being presented to interested clients in various cities before the pieces go up for auction in Geneva on November 6th and 7th.
By Stephan Eppinger
The collection includes, among other items, a large brooch from the collection of Archduchess Marie Therese of Austria-Teschen, Duchess of Württemberg. It is richly adorned with natural pearls and diamonds and has an auction estimate of up to 450,000 Swiss francs.
The collection of imperial and royal Viennese jewels encompasses cufflinks and cigarette cases as well as magnificent necklaces, brooches, and tiaras. These originate from various European royal houses, such as the House of Württemberg, all of which were connected to the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, and unite treasures from the 19th and early 20th centuries. For a long time, these treasures were securely stored in vaults. Now, they await their new owners at the renowned auction house.
The fascinating pieces document the unique royal and imperial court life in Vienna in all its splendor and glory, which attracted representatives from various European royal houses to the Danube. Thus, the collection includes jewels from Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany as well as from Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. Among them are also numerous wedding gifts.
On display, for example, is the star-shaped jewelry with glittering diamonds, made world-famous by Empress Sissi, as well as a ruby and diamond necklace for the Emperor’s niece, Archduchess Sophie of Austria. Additionally, there is an opulent necklace made of natural pearls and diamonds, with an estimated price of up to 220,000 Swiss francs. Valuable cufflinks from Edward, Prince of Wales, are also part of the collection; he had them as a gift in his luggage when he was a guest of the Württemberg family to learn German. During this trip, he also made a brief stop in Cologne.