Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed

Description

For centuries, the stories of the world's great jewellery collections have lain hidden within the archives of Christie's, the celebrated auctioneers. From the tragic European queens, Mary, Queen of Scots and Marie Antoinette - both beheaded - to Hollywood royalty such as Elizabeth Taylor, the vaults sparkle with the most celebrated (and occasionally notorious) names of the last 250 years. Following on from the success of his books on Boucheron: The Secret Archives, Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends and Mellerio: Jewellers to the Queens of Europe, author Vincent Meylan explores these remarkable jewellery archives, revealing the mysteries within for the first time. Each sale had its intrigue, each its story to tell. The first auction of jewellery from the British royal family took place at Christie's in 1773, after the death of the Princess of Wales, mother of George III. As the archives reveal, in the subsequent centuries, Christie's has been party to the sale of jewellery by several further generations of British royals, from Lady Patricia Ramsay and the Countess of Southesk through to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. And, in the wake of revolution and regicide further afield, the crown jewels of France, Russia, Bavaria, Serbia, Egypt, India and Spain were all sold at Christie's. Aside from Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary movie star collections of Merle Oberon and Gloria Swanson are also revealed here, as well as the most famous pearls and diamonds in the world; each explored within the context of their owners' remarkable lives. Expertly curating the extensive archives, Vincent Meylan has drawn out the key details of each momentous sale. Original documents from the vaults are reproduced in the book, alongside hundreds of colour illustrations of the jewels and their owners. AUTHOR: Vincent Meylan is a specialist in precious stones and high jewellery, and the author of several biographies and works on the history of precious stones, including Queens' Jewels (Assouline, 2005), Boucheron: The Secret Archives ISBN 9781851496679 (ACC, 2011), and of Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends ISBN 9781851497706 (ACC, 2014). 234 colour, 76 b/w illustrations

Vincent Meylan is a specialist in precious stones and high jewellery, and the author of several biographies and works on the history of precious stones, including Queens' Jewels (Assouline, 2005), Boucheron: The Secret Archives ISBN 9781851496679 (ACC, 2011), and of Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends ISBN 9781851497706 (ACC, 2014).

"Author Vincent Meylan delves into the stories behind both the gems and their owners. Many of the creations within are from the collections of the rich, famous, and powerful: Marie Antoinette, Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Here, discover a few of the most impressive jewels from the book." - Architectural Digest "Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor. The new book 'Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed' (ACC Art Books, $95) explores the auction house's most exquisite jewels to be sold over the past 250 years. From Elizabeth Taylor's emerald and diamond Bulgari necklace to the tiara worn by Princess Margaret on her wedding day, there are certainly a number of breathtaking pieces... " - Rachel Swalin, Veranda "Several of the most significant pieces in the most important jewelry sale at Christie's, or anywhere for that matter, from Elizabeth Taylor are included in the publication. And there is one mouth-watering image at the very end of the JAR jewels from the Ellen Barkin collection that frankly leaves you wanting much more from that sale in my opinion the greatest exhibition of the designer anywhere." - The Adventurine