A BROOCH once owned by the late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and younger sister of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, is to be auctioned by Adam’s in Dublin next week.
The 18-carat gold brooch, in the form of a scallop shell, was made by Tiffany and Co and the winning bidder will also receive a “certificate of provenance from Kensington Palace” – proof that it was bought during a Christie’s sale of the princess’s jewellery collection in London 2006.
It is signed by Viscount Linley – Princess Margaret’s son, who also happens to be chairman of Christie’s UK. In that sale, the brooch had a pre-sale estimate of £700–£900 but it sold for £5,760, apparently to an Irish buyer who is now re-selling it at Adam’s where the latest estimate is €10,000–€15,000.
Royal provenance can add sparkle to the most unlikely item and prompt irrational bidding. Princess Margaret died in 2002 and the auction of her personal effects attracted huge interest.
Among the hundreds of items sold were numerous gifts she had received, including the wedding present of “the government and people of New Zealand” – a pair of silver models of Kiwi (the birds, not the fruit) which had a pre-sale estimate of £600–£900 but sold for an astounding £36,000.
Bid for the brooch at Adam’s auction of fine jewellery and watches, at 26 St Stephen’s Green, Wednesday, May 23rd at 6pm.
