Marie-Antoinette’s jewels take in more than Sf53m at Sotheby's auction
The top lot was a natural pearl and oval diamond pendant, which soared to Sf36.4m after 10 minutes of spirited bidding
Geneva — A royal treasure trove including jewels that belonged to French Queen Marie-Antoinette fetched Sf53.5m on Wednesday, as collectors snapped up rare historic gems fresh to the market, Sotheby's said. Held in private European collections for more than 200 years, 10 royal jewels that belonged to the ill-fated Marie Antoinette and were passed down through Italy's royal Bourbon Parma family, featured among 100 lots that all found new owners. "The Marie Antoinette provenance is probably second to none. It's a record for a sale of royal jewels," David Bennett, chair of Sotheby's international jewellery division who conducted the Geneva auction, told reporters. The total exceeded the $50m at its historic two-day auction of the Duchess of Windsor jewels, held in the Swiss city in 1987. Bennett said that bidders in 43 countries participated in the Bourbon Parma sale. "It's amazing when you think that these jewels, the majority of them, have not been seen in public for over 200 years. ...
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