On December 5th 2012 treasures from Harewood House, the seat of the Earls of Harewood, were offered at Christie’s at King Street, London. One of the highlights was a small group of items by Fabergé from the collection of HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (1897-1965). She was the only daughter of HM King George V and HRH Queen Mary. She married Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood in 1922. Most of the pieces were either gifts to, or were inherited by Princess Mary.
Highlights from the Harewood Sale
Image courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd 2012
This jewelled gold, silver-gilt and guilloché enamel cigarette case was made by Fabergé’s workmaster Henrik Wigström in 1909, or just before. The date can fixed so precisely as it was purchased by a Mrs Neumann from the Fabergé shop in London on October 25th 1909 for £55-10 shillings (£55.50) and is thought to have been presented to Edward VII as a gift. In turn the King either gifted or bequeathed it to his granddaughter Princess Mary.
It is 10.5cm wide. It sold for £313,250 (US$504,330; €384,045)
Image courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd 2012
This two-coloured gold-mounted mother-of-pearl and guilloché fan was made by Fabergé’s workmaster Mikhail Perkhin during the period 1899-1903. It was made for Princess Victoria, the second daughter of Edward VII. She was particularly close to her brother George Duke of York, Prince of Wales who succeeded to the throne as King George V. Princess Victoria bequeathed it to her brother upon her death in 1935 and upon his demise in the same year it was inherited by Princess Mary.
The fan is 24.1cm (9.5in) in length. It sold for £109,250 (US$175,890; €133,940)
Image courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd 2012
This jewelled silver-mounted and guilloché enamel photograph frame was made by Fabergé’s workmaster Mikhail Perkhin during the period 1899-1903. It contains a portrait miniature of King George V. It is believed Princess Mary was either given it by or inherited it from her father.
It is just 9.5cm (3.75in) in height, It sold for £58,850 (US$94,750; €72,150)
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On Sunday December 9th the Harewood Attic Sale was held at Christie’s South Kensington. The sales were held as part of the arrangements following the death in 2011 of George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood. He was Princess Mary’s eldest son. The pieces to be sold have been selected from outside the core 18th century collections at Harewood House, which was built from 1759-1771 near the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire.
The sales totalled £4,625,638 (US$7,447,280; €5,671,030)
