"Property From The Collection Of HRH The Prince George, Duke Of Kent And HRH Princess Marina, Duchess Of Kent" 2009 Christie's London
$350
[190] pp.
336 lots
Christie's London
2009
10 1/2" x 8 1/4"
Fine
Scroll Down for (11) Additional Scans:
An auction catalogue of fine objects from the collection of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Many of the items have Royal and Imperial connections, including the Duke's chair for the coronation of his brother King George VI and photograph albums from the Russian Imperial family. The sale also includes paintings, furniture, jewellery and a large quantity of silver. With some archive photographs.
Introduction by Kenneth Rose. Christie's. London. Friday 20 November 2009. Paperback, quarto; illustrated wrappers. 190 pages. 336 lots illustrated in colour. English. 270 x 210mm. 0.6kg. . Near fine; light shelf wear
A highlight of the auction is a portrait of Princess Louise (1848-1939) by her mother, Queen Victoria (1819-1901), which is expected to realise £10,000 to £15,000. This portrait is based on a detail of The Four Eldest Princesses: Victoria, Princess Royal, Alice, Helena and Louise by Franz Xavier Winterhalter that was painted in 1849 and given to the Queen by Prince Albert on his birthday. The portrait by Queen Victoria of Princess Louise is one of three portraits after Winterhalter that she painted in the summer of 1851. The other two are of Princess Clothilde and Princess Amalie of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
A leading furniture highlight is HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent’s chair and stool from the coronation of his brother, HM King George VI in 1937. Covered in red silk, and woven with the Royal coat of arms, it is estimated to realise £15,000 to £30,000. It is a rare occurrence for these chairs to appear at auction. A chair of a simpler design that was used by Queen Mary at the Coronation in 1937 was offered from the Collection of HRH The Princess Margaret at Christie’s in 2006, and sold for £38,400.
The impressive silver section in the sale is led by a pair of wine coolers (estimate: £20,000 to £30,000) and a silver plate made for George II in 1752 (estimate: £8,000 to £12,000). An art deco gold and nephrite mantel clock by Cartier is expected to realise £8,000 to £12,000, and a George II silver gilt bell which was hung from the coronation canopy held by the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports at King George II’s coronation carries an estimate of £5,000 to £8,000.
The sale also includes a magnificent silver model of the Bentley Jackson Special, known as “Mother Gun” that was presented by The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to HRH Prince Michael of Kent, its President from 1978 to 1998 on his retirement. On 26 April 1992 at Milbrook High Speed Circuit, the car, one of whose drivers was HRH Prince Michael of Kent, took the UK Class B Standing Start 1000 miles record at a speed of 104.49 miles per hour. Proceeds from this lot, which is estimated at £30,000 to £50,000, will be donated to the charity, the Soldiers’, Sailors’ Airmen and Families’ Association (SSAFA) whose President of Council is HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
The jewellery collection includes an array of highly personal pieces, many of them
monogrammed or inscribed. Highlights include a charming necklace which features miniature photographs of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and each of their nine children, each set in silver (estimate: £500-700) and an antique diamond brooch forming “Victoria R” in old-cut diamond script letters, circa 1880, mounted in gold (estimated: £400-600).
There is also a ring with a cameo possibly of Frederick, Prince of Wales, circa 1790 (estimate: £400-600).