Tales of Celebrities and the Far East From Christie's

  Here I offer part three of my series on Victor Meylan's book, Christie's: The Jewellery Archives Revealed. This time I want to highlight Chapters 9 and 10 of the book, Ladies of the Stage and Gems from the Far East.  

Christie's Celebrates Celebrities

Chapter 9, Ladies of the Stage, focuses on Merle Oberon and Gloria Swanson. Merle Oberon hit the big screen in 1933, playing the role of Anne Boleyn in Korda's film The Private Life of Henry VIII. Her story is yet another one of rising fame, closely held secrets, and private tragedy. Meylan states that Merle Oberon's collection of jewels was the most beautiful ever sold at Christie's. Following her death, her exquisite collections of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires sold at Christie's in 1980. From Gloria Swanson's vast collection of jewels, Meylan draws special attention to a pair of rock crystal and diamond bracelets by Cartier. He goes on to describe their singular Art Deco technique and elegance. Meylan slips right into the next paragraph detailing the singular sensation of Gloria Swanson herself. He describes her as the first person to capture the affection and attention of the international press, calling her the first "star." After her death in 1983, most of her collection sold through a New York gallery. In 1988, the Cartier bangles found themselves up for auction at Christie's Geneva. Cartier smartly purchased them back for their personal collection.  

Gems of the Far East

Chapter 10, Gems from the East, highlights jewels from India, China, and more. These include the treasures of Aga Khan and the Soong Sisters. Contended by the Aga Khan himself, the sale of the wealthy Imam's treasures to Christie's was organized by his ex-wife, Princess Salimah. After ruling in the princess's favor, the court suggested that the contentious ruler buy his jewels back at auction if he really wanted them. In November 1995, Christie's Geneva offered the collection for sale, raising an astonishing 31 million Swiss francs. One jewel rose above the rest, fetching 8.8 million francs. The Begum Blue, a 13.78 carat blue diamond cut in the shape of a heart, forms a portion of the elaborate pendant of a diamond necklace designed by Poiray.  

The Soong Sisters

Moving on to China, Meylan hails Soong Mei-ling as one of the most famous women of the 20th century. She and her two sisters married powerful Chinese men. Each of these women played an integral role in China's rise in global power in the 20th century. The sisters remained close throughout their lives, passing their jewels back and forth to one another. One sister married a millionaire. Meanwhile, a second sister became honorary President of the Chinese Republic. Finally, one converted her husband to Christianity, blending eastern and western traditions. Their jewelry collection sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2015, raising more than $14 million. The top three lots all featured gorgeous green jadeite. Once again, the stories Meylan tells fascinate, inspire, and compel historians and collectors alike. Stay tuned for my final installment of this series - Christie's Diamonds!   ~ Angela Magnotti Andrews