necklace
consisting of fifteen graduated drops, each formed of one bouton pearl,
one brilliant, and one pear-shaped pearl drop, depending from a narrow
band of small diamonds, drew forth a bid of £5000 ($25,000) and was
finally awarded for the sum of £12,200 ($61,000). A pearl rope of 183
graduated and well-matched pearls realized £7200 ($36,000), and a fine
pair of pearls set as earrings brought £3400 ($17,000). The crowded
auction room, the keen competition among the bidders, and the amount
obtained for these jewels are good indications of the firmness of the
market at the present time.
At
the sale of the jewels of Lady Henry Gordon-Lennox, held at Christie's
on May 12, 1907, a splendid necklace was offered. It comprised 287
graduated pearls of the finest orient, disposed in five rows, with a
large circular pearl. This magnificent ornament was sold for £25,500
($127,500).
On
July 11, 1907, a splendid necklace of forty-nine graduated pearls, of
fine luster and carefully matched, was sold at auction by Debenham and
Storr of London, for the sum of £5600 ($28,000). At the same sale a
single-row necklace of forty-five pearls brought £5300 ($26,500), and a
rope of oriental pearls realized £4500 ($22,500).
At
the auction sale of the collection of the late Bishop Bubics of
Hungary, among other objects, a very handsome saber pouch was offered,
of the style worn by the Hungarian hussars. It was of green silk and
richly embroidered with hundreds of pearls of varying sizes. After a
spirited competition this pouch was sold to Prince Esterhazy for 13,500
crowns ($2700). Some time after the sale a letter from the late bishop
was found, containing the statement that he had borrowed the ornament
from the jewel-room of the Princess Esterhazy. Naturally, Prince
Esterhazy was not called upon to pay the amount of his bid. It is a
gratification to know that at least one of the remarkable Magyar
jeweled ornaments has escaped the cupidity of enterprising jewelers who
have broken up so many of these ornaments for the gems which they
contained.
