Important sapphire drop, old European cut diamonds, gold and silver 19th Century pair of pendant earrings, sapphire drops (approx. 55 ct each), h. 3.8 cm

This pair of earrings is set with two exceptional sapphires, each estimated at 55 carats. The most simple of mounts highlights the true beauty of these stones in both colour and size.

It is extremely unusualfor such jewels to have survived intact through the centuries, always remainingin the same family. Most often, they are transformed, divided, resized orsimply sold.

The discovery ofthese earrings brings to light a little bit of history on one of the world’sprominent families from the past and whose valuables were passed down throughthe generations. Research back to the first third of the 19th century revealeda portrait of a princess wearing these jewels that had been carefullypreserved. The earrings have never appeared on the market until this day.

In 1831 thePolish artist Jan Nepomuk Glowacki immortalised Princess Isabela Sanguszko, néePrincess Lubomirska (1808-1868), wearing two sapphire drops on her ears. Theportrait has followed the jewels since the 19th century, allowing the family toidentify them and keep a souvenir of their ancestor.

The Lubomirskifamily is a very old and important Polish family that dates back to the 10thcentury. Their fortune and influence grew over several centuries to such anextent that in 1647 Stanislaw Lubomirski received the title of Prince of theHoly Empire from Ferdinand III of Habsburg. It is linked to the largest rulingdynasties in Europe: Capetian, Bourbon, Hohenzollern...

From thisprestigious lineage, Princess Lubomirska married Prince Wladyslaw HieronyiSanguszko (1803-1870), who himself came from a Polish princely family. She wasthe daughter of Henryk Ludwik Lubomirski (1777-1850), a great patron of thearts whose portrait was painted by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun entitled "Geniusof Fame".

According tofamily tradition, upon the death of Princess Isabela Maria Sanguszko, theearrings were passed on to her younger sister, Jadwiga Julia Wanda Lubomirska(1815-1895), third wife of Prince Eugene I of Ligne, and then to their daughterMarie Georgine Sophie Hedwige Princesse de Ligne (1843-1898). It was in 1862 atthe castle of Beloeil, Belgium that Princess Marie de Ligne married the grandfatherof the current owner and the earrings would continue on their path within thesame family.

These impressivesapphire drops are mounted in such a way that the colour and transparency areenhanced without being obstructed by metal or other stones. The mounts were transformedat the end of the 19th or early 20th century probably to strengthen and bringthem up to date, adapting them to the faster paced lifestyles of the Belle Époqueor the Roaring Twenties.

This particularshade of blue is synonymous with royalty and prestige. No other stone seemsable to imitate such a colour which has always attracted those in powerfulpositions.

From the HighMiddle Ages until the mid-19th century, sources of good quality sapphire wererare and most of them came from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). As early as the 4thcentury, the trade in stones from this region was already international,spreading from Asia to Europe via the Middle East through the Silk Road. Fromthe 15th century onwards, sea routes became more widely used and tradeintensified.

In our opinion,these sapphires originate from Ceylon and do not seem to have undergone anytreatment to improve their colour. The fact that these sapphires form an almostidentical pair in colour and weight gives this historic jewel the title of ‘ExceptionalObject’.

Important sapphire drop, old European cut diamonds, gold and silver 19th Century pair of pendant earrings, sapphire drops (approx. 55 ct each), h. 3.8 cm

This pair of
earrings is set with two exceptional sapphires, each estimated at 55 carats.
The most simple of mounts highlights the true beauty of these stones in both
colour and size.

It is extremely unusualfor such jewels to have survived intact through the centuries, always remainingin the same family. Most often, they are transformed, divided, resized orsimply sold.

The discovery ofthese earrings brings to light a little bit of history on one of the world’sprominent families from the past and whose valuables were passed down throughthe generations. Research back to the first third of the 19th century revealeda portrait of a princess wearing these jewels that had been carefullypreserved. The earrings have never appeared on the market until this day.

In 1831 thePolish artist Jan Nepomuk Glowacki immortalised Princess Isabela Sanguszko, néePrincess Lubomirska (1808-1868), wearing two sapphire drops on her ears. Theportrait has followed the jewels since the 19th century, allowing the family toidentify them and keep a souvenir of their ancestor.

The Lubomirskifamily is a very old and important Polish family that dates back to the 10thcentury. Their fortune and influence grew over several centuries to such anextent that in 1647 Stanislaw Lubomirski received the title of Prince of theHoly Empire from Ferdinand III of Habsburg. It is linked to the largest rulingdynasties in Europe: Capetian, Bourbon, Hohenzollern...

From thisprestigious lineage, Princess Lubomirska married Prince Wladyslaw HieronyiSanguszko (1803-1870), who himself came from a Polish princely family. She wasthe daughter of Henryk Ludwik Lubomirski (1777-1850), a great patron of thearts whose portrait was painted by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun entitled "Geniusof Fame".

According tofamily tradition, upon the death of Princess Isabela Maria Sanguszko, theearrings were passed on to her younger sister, Jadwiga Julia Wanda Lubomirska(1815-1895), third wife of Prince Eugene I of Ligne, and then to their daughterMarie Georgine Sophie Hedwige Princesse de Ligne (1843-1898). It was in 1862 atthe castle of Beloeil, Belgium that Princess Marie de Ligne married the grandfatherof the current owner and the earrings would continue on their path within thesame family.

These impressivesapphire drops are mounted in such a way that the colour and transparency areenhanced without being obstructed by metal or other stones. The mounts were transformedat the end of the 19th or early 20th century probably to strengthen and bringthem up to date, adapting them to the faster paced lifestyles of the Belle Époqueor the Roaring Twenties.

This particularshade of blue is synonymous with royalty and prestige. No other stone seemsable to imitate such a colour which has always attracted those in powerfulpositions.

From the HighMiddle Ages until the mid-19th century, sources of good quality sapphire wererare and most of them came from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). As early as the 4thcentury, the trade in stones from this region was already international,spreading from Asia to Europe via the Middle East through the Silk Road. Fromthe 15th century onwards, sea routes became more widely used and tradeintensified.

In our opinion,these sapphires originate from Ceylon and do not seem to have undergone anytreatment to improve their colour. The fact that these sapphires form an almostidentical pair in colour and weight gives this historic jewel the title of ‘ExceptionalObject’.

Bon état de conservation général.
Les pendants ont probablement subit des modifications et des réparations.
Des éléments permettent de suspendre les pendants derrière les oreilles afin de les sécuriser.

2 saphirs taille goutte :
dimensions env. 28 - 31 x 17.5 - 17.8 mm x ht 13.2 - 13.3 mm
Présences de nombreuses égrisures et quelques éclats
Présence d'inclusions indiquant que les saphirs sont probablement non chauffés.

Poinçons : de titre Français / 'VR' partiellement effacé