Pair of Shell Ear Clips, Darde & Fils, Circa 1965

Each striped conical shell applied with polished zig-zag spirals, French assay and maker's marks for Darde et Fils, clip fittings. Estimate ,000—6,000 GBP - Lot Sold. 5,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Formerly the property of the Duchess of W

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LITERATURE AND REFERENCES: Cf: Sotheby's Catalogue, The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor, 2nd and 3rd April 1987, Geneva, lot 11 when this piece was formerly sold, not illustrated.

Cf: John Culme and Nicholas Rayner, The Jewels of The Duchess of Windsor, Thames & Hudson in association with Sotheby's, 1987.

NOTE: The Duchess of Windsor, born Bessie Wallis Warfield, (1895/96 - 1986) was an American socialite whose third husband was Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, his decision to marry Mrs Simpson (twice-divorced), caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom and Europe, which ultimately led to the King's abdication in December 1936 to marry,"the woman I love".

Throughout their courtship and married life the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Windsor shared a passion for jewellery, commissioning a series of fabulous creations from some of the finest jewellers of the time. The collection included some of the most important examples of the art and creativity of 20th Century jewellers.

A large number of the collection consisted of Cartier pieces, including a spectacular sapphire and diamond necklace, circa1940 and a gold, turquoise, amethyst and diamond bib necklace circa 1947, this was worn to the Grand Bal held at the 'Galerie de l'Orangerie de Versailles' in June 1953. At the British Fashion Gala in Biarritz in 1959 the Duchess wore the emerald and rose diamond Indian necklace as a double row choker, together with her Cartier emerald bead and rose diamond ear clips. In December 1955 the Duchess was seen dancing at the Lido, the Champs-Elysee cabaret in Paris, wearing her Van Cleef & Arpels invisibly set ruby and diamond foliate earclips, her sapphire, ruby and diamond hinged bangle designed as a peacock's feather by Cartier, Paris, 1946, her ruby bead, emerald and diamond tasseled necklace of Indian inspiration by Cartier, and her pearl necklace. In addition to these exquisite pieces, a ruby and diamond crossover necklace by Cartier in 1937, the ruby and diamond clusters, in which the two cushion shaped rubies weighed 36.15cts, were remounted by Cartier as spectacular terminals for a bangle. This was the jewel that the Duke presented to the Duchess of Windsor to commemorate their first wedding anniversary on 3 June 1938.

Sotheby's. Important Jewels. 17 Dec 08. London. photo courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com