Estimate

3.500 - 4.500

Session 2

5 March 2020

Hammer Price

Description

Miniature on ivory with a portrait of princess Maria Pia of Savoy, future Queen of Portugal, probably aged 15
Signed
Portuguese gold
raised decoration of volutes and foliage set with small cultured pearls, oval cut tourmalines and small 8/8 cut diamonds
Lisbon hallmarks (800/1000) for 1938-1985 for Casa Leitão & Irmão

4x3 cm (miniatura)
Height: 7 cm (total)
26.5g

Category

Jewellery

Additional Information

José Ferreira Borges de Castro, 1st Viscount Borges de Castro (1825-1887) married D.Iphigenia Maria de Castro Gonçalves da Silva (1831-1885) on the 10th April 1850. The couple had 6 children. The youngest was born in Turin, Italy when his father was the Portuguese Special Envoy and Ambassador at the Italian Court.
This child named Humberto Pio Maria José Ferreira Borges de Castro (1862-1920), was born on the 8th September 1862 and baptised in the Royal Chapel. His godparents were Umberto Raniero Carolo Emanuel Joanne Maria Ferdinando Eugenio, Prince of Piemont (future king Umberto I of Italy) and his sister Maria Pia (future queen of Portugal on her marriage to king Luís I), whose father was king Victorio Emanuel II of Italy.
This miniature was a gift from the princess to her godson and it was originally stored in a jewelled case. It was later removed from its original setting and framed in this brooch. Other miniature portraits of members of the Savoy Royal family are also known by the same artist.