Princess Margaret’s jewels go for £40,000 at auction
JEWELLERY belonging to Princess Margaret fetched £40,000 when it went under the hammer yesterday.
Princess Margaret’s gems were highly valued
The items included an enamel and gem-set tiger bangle and ring suite, dating back to about 1965.
The pieces were expected to fetch £18,000 to £22,000 at the auction at Bonhams, London.
But they sold for £35,000.
The bangle is rendered in black and white enamel and features tiger’s head designs — each with ruby eyes, circular-cut mane, red enamel tongue and red enamel and single-cut diamond nose.
Each is grasping a diamond hoop between their jaws.
We are pleased these items achieved such strong prices
A gold and sapphire-set photograph frame by Cartier in the 20th century also sold for more than expected, raising £5,000 rather than the estimate of £2,000 to £3,000.
Each piece was engraved with the letter “M” beneath Princess Margaret’s coronet and accompanied by the certificate of provenance.
The items were among a collection that provoked a bidding frenzy at Christie’s in 2006.
Jean Ghika, of Bonhams, said: “We are pleased these items achieved such strong prices.”
A third lot, a sapphire and diamond bow brooch, estimated to fetch £22,000 to £25,000, failed to sell.