Jean Ghika
Global Head of Jewellery
Lot 93
PEARL AND DIAMOND TIARA/NECKLACE, CIRCA 1890
Amended
7 December 2023, 11:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £20,480 inc. premium
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Jennifer Tonkin
Co-Head of Department UK
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PEARL AND DIAMOND TIARA/NECKLACE, CIRCA 1890
Composed of graduating foliate drops with old brilliant, single and rose-cut diamonds, terminating with a pearl, interspersed by diamond-set spacers of similar design, on a backchain of alternating old brilliant-cut diamond trefoils and collet-set brilliant-cut diamonds, the openwork clasp set with a central old brilliant-cut diamond and single-cut diamonds, mounted in silver and gold, pearls untested, tiara frame deficient, diamonds approximately 6.50 carats total, later paste-set silver clasp, length 39.0cm
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
The Hon Dorothy Maud Vivian married Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig 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).
Dorothy and her sister, Violet, were ladies-in-waiting to Queen Alexandra and this lot is accompanied by a presentation card from Queen Alexandra inscribed, Presented together with "Tiara" to Dorothy Vivian on her Marriage Day July 11th 1905.
Black and white photograph: Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig and Dorothy Maud (née Vivian), Countess Haig wearing lot 93 on 24th November 1922. © National Portrait Gallery, London
Saleroom notices
Prior to marriage, Dorothy and her twin sister, Violet, served together as Maids of Honour to Queen Alexandra and not as Ladies in Waiting as stated in the catalogue entry.