Jewel from Queen Elizabeth II’s Lady-in-Waiting Sells at Elmwood’s

Elmwood’s sold a Verdura jewel at its recent auction in London, where it fetched GBP 23,750 ($32,400).

The brooch, designed as a unicorn’s head, features around 1.10 carats of diamonds, including a pear-shaped diamond fringe, diamond-set horn and brilliant-cut diamond, as well as a circular cabochon turquoise crown, the auction house said last week. The jewel was among the top lots at the August 19 Jewellery sale.

The piece’s previous owner was Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, dowager countess of Airlie, who served Queen Elizabeth II for almost 50 years as her lady-in-waiting. Italian-American jeweler Fulco di Verdura, whom Lady Airlie knew from her childhood, created the brooch.

“The combination of Verdura’s extraordinary design, the jewel’s beauty and its remarkable royal provenance made this a particularly special offering,” said Joe Kendrick, head of sale at Elmwood’s Auctioneers. “The…result demonstrates the continued international appetite for exceptional jewels combining important design, royal provenance and a compelling personal history.”

Other top pieces that went under the hammer included an Art Deco diamond feather brooch Van Cleef & Arpels designed in 1927, comprising old European- and single-cut diamonds. It achieved GBP 75,000 ($102,229). Another Art Deco jewel, an Egyptian Revival tiara featuring pairs of king cobras with cabochon malachite, green banded agate, jadeite jade and hydrogrossular garnet, sold for GBP 65,000 ($88,595).

A tutti frutti brooch from Cartier circa 1940, containing sapphire, emeralds and rubies, brought in GBP 60,000 ($81,780). 

Image: The Verdura brooch. (Elmwood’s)