Lot 289. The Vivien Leigh chrysoberyl demi-parure, 18th century. Estimate 4,000 — 6,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

comprising: a devant-de-corsage designed as a bow suspending a detachable pendant, set throughout with foil-backed circular-cut, cushion- and pear-shaped chrysoberyls; and a pair of earrings of similar design,pendants detachable, screw fittings. Quantity: 6 - brooch with Portuguese assay mark, chrysoberyl; devant-de-corsage approximately 64 x 87mm, earrings approximately 47mm each.

Note: A photograph by Grey Villet from December 1962 shows Vivien Leigh wearing the brooch from this parure whilst rehearsing with Jean Pierre Aumont for the Broadway musical play Tovarich (1963), which earned Leigh a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (The LIFE Picture Collection; Getty Images). She also appears in numerous press photographs of the period wearing the earrings which were often favoured for evening wear by her, most famously, on the occasion of the re-premiere of Gone With the Wind in Atlanta in 1961.