This Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Wine sale, appropriately titled Carats and Clarets, included a locket given to Lady Victoria Scott on her marriage to Schomberg Henry Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian, on February 23, 1865. Victoria was a great friend of her mother, Charlotte, Duchess of Buccleuch.
As well as the engraved presentation inscription, it is monogrammed with the crowned VR in old cut diamonds, emeralds and rubies and opened to reveal a portrait miniature of the youthful queen inside. Estimated at £3000-5000 at the auction on November 5, the locket sold to a phone bidder, understood to be from the Far East, at £19,000.
From the same family descendant was a christening gift to Lady Victoria Scott’s daughter, Victoria Alexandrina Alberta Kerr. This took the form of a pearl and diamond pendant brooch with its original blue silk fitted case applied with a gilt metal shield engraved To Lady Victoria Alexandrina Alberta Kerr from her Godmother Victoria R, 11 December 1876.
This pearl and diamond pendant brooch with original case and letters was a gift from Queen Victoria to Lady Victoria Scott’s daughter – £8000 at Cheffins.
Included with the lot was a cased portrait miniature of the recipient as a young girl and two letters exchanged between Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle and the recipient’s mother at Newbattle Abbey. It references her majesty’s “pleasure that the child should be named Victoria Alberta” and “my gift to my dear little god daughter of whom I am so pleased”.
This lot sold on top estimate for £8000 to a US-based online bidder.
Celtic design influence
Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) sale on October 27 included a turquoise, enamel and diamond bangle with similar royal connections. An inscription read Jemima St Germans given to her by HM Queen Victoria Sept 3rd 1853.
At the end of August that year, Victoria, Prince Albert and two of their sons had visited the Great Industrial Exhibition in Dublin, the royal party hosted by Lord St Germans, lord lieutenant of Ireland, and his wife Lady Jemima St Germans. In her diary entries Victoria described Lady St Germans as “…a quiet, pleasing, sensible person” and a close companion throughout the trip. September 3 was the last night of their stay with the two families dining together during “…a gay fine evening” aboard the royal yacht.
The 1853 exhibition in Dublin was notable for the unveiling of the recently discovered ‘Tara’ brooch. The magnificent 8th century silver gilt brooch was credited with firing the revival of Celtic design, with some of its influence evident in the decoration of this bangle which sold at £6000.
