In creating this Valkyrie set, the Paris refined jewelry company asserted its inventiveness and appeal for a bold clientele.
Chaumet, c. 1900. Tiara in white gold, rhodium-plated gold, silver and rose-cut diamonds, with velvet ribbon and horn comb, gross weight: 95.70 g/3.4 oz.
Result: €131,250
Located in Place Vendôme since its founding in 1812, Chaumet officially supplied the two French imperial courts of Josephine and Eugenie. One of the latter’s favorite pieces was a "Trèfle de Compiègne" clover-shaped emerald brooch by the famous jeweler. In 1900, Chaumet’s creative genius was as fresh as ever: this spectacular tiara in white gold, rhodium-plated gold and silver, with two branches and two wings, unsurprisingly soared up to €131,250. Naturally, the piece is set with numerous rose-cut diamonds, embellished with a velvet ribbon and a horn comb (gross weight: 95.70 g/3.4 oz). This extraordinary tiara was commissioned by a Breton aristocrat—a loyal Chaumet customer, according to family tradition.
Also by the same jeweler, a white gold and platinum "river of diamonds" necklace set with a string of 18 brilliant-cut diamonds (the largest weighing 2.25 ct; the others between 1.86 and 0.70 ct) garnered €43,750. Bearing the hallmark of Joseph Chaumet (1852-1928), it was transformed by the company in early 2000 to add length (gross weight: 37.40 g/1.3 oz).
The silverware section featured an English silver tureen and its display stand, made in London between 1756 and 1763 by Edward Wakelin (admitted as a master in 1748). This spectacularly ornate piece with four scrolled feet standing on half-spheres, a twisted-rib body engraved with a sea horse and two rocaille handles (gross weight: 3,926 g/138.5 oz; 42.5 x 23.5 cm/16.7 x 9.3 in), fetched a fine €8,187. Meanwhile, a watercolor attributed to Eugène Delacroix, Personnage grec (Greek Figure), went for €5,000.
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