Estimate

42.000 - 62.000

Session 1

28 May 2019

Hammer Price

Description

Silver-topped gold set with 557 old mine cut diamonds (ca. 35,20ct)
Base of the tiara with a diamond frieze under eight larger diamonds and seven detachable diamond-set flower heads mounted "en tremblant"
Each flower detaches, with a gold frame to wear the central as a brooch and six silvergilt mounts to wear the side flowers as hair pins
Earrings designed as similar flower heads
Porto maker's mark of António Joaquim Póvoas (reg. 1863), 1860s/80s
With a black leather, silk and velvet lined fitted case
(wear signs, minor defects)

Largura tiara: 15 cm Heightra tiara: 5 cm Diam. brincos: 2,2 cm
Total: 155 g

Category

Jewellery

Additional Information

Portuguese jewels of this epoch, size and extremely fine craftsmanship are scarce at the market.
The fashhion for "en tremblant" tiaras reached its peak in Portugal with the commission of the Queen D. Maria Pia to Estevão de Souza in 1863 of the famous "Star Tiara" wich was part of a very large parure executed between 1863 and 1866 that - despite a controversial restoration in the mid-20th century which distorted the original image of the pieces - remains in the collections of Palácio da Ajuda.
Although clearly smaller in size and gemological richness the piece now on sale shows the same exquisite craftsmanship as the royal commission.