Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website The Donnersmarck Diamonds - Sotheby's Geneva, 15 November 2017
october 23, 2017 - Sotheby

The Donnersmarck Diamonds - Sotheby's Geneva, 15 November 2017

Witness to one of the Great Love Stories of the 19th Century

These historical diamonds were acquired by the Legendary “La Païva”, One of the most famous 19th-century courtesans in Paris and A leading figure of contemporary cultural and artistic society

Geneva, 23 October 2017 – To mark ten highly successful years of dedicated Noble Jewels sales in #geneva, Sotheby’s will offer at auction The Donnersmarck Diamonds, a pair of extraordinary Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds with impeccable aristocratic provenance. The superb diamonds, formerly in the Collection of the Princely Family von Donnersmarck, consist of a cushion-shaped diamond weighing 102.54 carats, and a pear-shaped diamond weighing 82.47 carats. The exquisite stones will be offered [some text removed] as a single lot during Sotheby’s auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, to be held on 15 November at Mandarin Oriental, #geneva. The pair is estimated at $9-14 million (CHF 8,810,000 – 13,700,000).

David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division, said: “These stunning diamonds carry with them a fascinating story, full of romance and determination over adversity, which could have inspired some of the greatest novels and operas, from Manon Lescaut to La Traviata. Ten years ago, they were the star of the show when we launched our very first sale dedicated to Noble Jewels here in #geneva. I am delighted to mark a 2 Interiors of La Païva’s hotel particulier in Paris decade of success by presenting these exceptional diamonds once again. Jewels of royal and aristocratic provenance carry with them a special sense of history and these are no exception: the auction in November will offer the chance for someone to acquire extraordinarily rare jewels imbued with a fascinating history.”

LA PAÏVA

The Donnersmarck Diamonds were part of the collection of La Païva, Countess #henckelvondonnersmarck (1819-1884), arguably the most famous of 19th-century French courtesans, whose vertiginous trajectory from modest circumstances in her native Russia to the highest circles of European aristocracy was sensational. Born Esther Lachman, she arrived in Paris aged 18 and was rapidly introduced to the city’s cultural and artistic circles by her lover, piano composer and pianist, Henri Herz. This relationship gained her the friendship of many artists, including Richard Wagner, Hans von Bülow, Théophile Gautier, and Emile de Girardin.

In the late 1840s, she met the Portuguese Marquis Albino Francisco de Araújo de Païva. They were married in 1851 but the marriage lasted only one day. Now known as La Païva, It was around this time she met her future husband, Count Guido #henckelvondonnersmarck (1830-1916).

More information on the press release