Victorian 18ct gold, enamel and gemset collar commissioned by John Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, for his wife Frances, priced £125,000 at Hancocks.
The eight-locket collar was commissioned in c.1875 by John Spencer-Churchill (1857-83), the 7th Duke of Marlborough, for his wife Frances.
The jewel carries the initials of seven of their 11 children that in turn link to some of the biggest names from the Victorian and Edwardian era such as Queen Victoria herself, the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill, the wealthy US Vanderbilt family and the Spencer family of Althorp.
Jewellery dealer Hancocks London is offering the necklace with an asking price of £125,000. It is the first time it is being offered on the open market.
Hancocks’ Guy Burton said: “Reading the list of the great and good connected by this single piece of jewellery, it’s really quite incredible to see just how far a single generation’s influence stretched at home in the UK and in America.”
Three of the couple’s 11 children did not survive infancy but only seven are included in the collar. Hancocks is researching the family history further to find out why the couple’s fifth daughter, Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Spencer-Churchill, was either not included or her locket later removed.
