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Jewellery from the collection of racehorse trainer Renée Louise Marie de Rothschild (1927-2015) is going up for auction at a sale in Britain next month.
A keen equestrian, Rothschild married British Olympic showjumper Peter Robeson OBE (1929-2018), known as the ‘Godfather of British show-jumping’ and together they became hugely successful racehorse trainers from their stud in Buckinghamshire, England. She was one of the daughters of Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961) of the illustrious Rothschild banking dynasty, and Yvonne Lydia Louise Cahen d’Anvers (1899-1977), who was also from a banking family.
The collection will be sold by auction house Dreweatts on November 23, 2022.
Many of the jewels in the collection reflect Rothschild’s genuine passion for horses, including an Edwardian enamel and diamond horse and jockey brooch created in the form of St Amant, a British thoroughbred owned and bred by Renée Rothschild’s grandfather, Leopold Nathan de Rothschild (1845-1917).
St Amant’s racing career was short-lived, lasting only three years. The highlight was his win at the 1904 Epsom Derby when he was ridden by celebrated British jockey Walter Kempton Cannon (1879-1951). The race took place during a violent thunderstorm, but the crowd’s enthusiastic reception to St Amant’s win was down to Leopold de Rothschild’s universal popularity. The win was widely reported in the press and was later celebrated with a dinner at the Savoy in London.
St Amant began misbehaving and became known as ‘a thorough rogue’ until his rather extraordinary bond with a cat, who became a constant companion during training. The cat seemed to temper the horse’s mood and his final win in 1905 (the jockey club stakes at Newmarket), was attributed partly to this. St Amant was retired in 1906 and went on to sire the champion filly Chacolet, who had a successful racing career in the 1920s in the US.
The brooch comprises an old cut and rose cut diamond set galloping horse with an enamelled jockey wearing blue silk and yellow hat. It has a knife edge bar with a rose cut diamond set with St A at the terminals. It dates from 1904 and carries an estimate of £600 to £800.
An early 20th century sapphire, diamond and enamel brooch featuring a jockey on a hobby horse is a fun addition to the collection. The jockey who wears the Rothschild colours has an enamelled face and boots and is wearing a circular cut blue sapphire silks and yellow diamond hat. The jodhpurs are pavé set rose cut diamond and the jockey is riding a rose cut diamond accented hobby horse, with a ruby eye and a transitional cut diamond wheel. Dating from about 1905, it has an estimate of £1500 to £2000.
James Nicholson, Deputy Chairman and International Head of Jewellery, Silver and Watches at Dreweatts, said the collection of 45 jewels and precious boxes gives a glimpse into how family jewellery collections come together over the generations, with pieces from different periods of jewellery design.
“Some of the pieces, such as the jockey brooches, have a distinct history all of their own, adding to their allure.”
Elsewhere in the collection is an elegant gold watch pendant by Cartier, dating from 1912. It is engraved on the back ‘Marie from Jimmy Xmas 1912’. The Marie in question was Marie De Rothschild (Nee Perugia, 1862-1937), Renée’s paternal grandmother. It carries an estimate of £800 to £1200.
A French 1930s platinum, sapphire and diamond bracelet is a highlight of the collection. It features sleek octagonal panels set with calibré cut sapphires and transitional cut diamond and baguette cut diamond set links, with French Platinum Poinçons. It carries an estimate of £15,000 to £20,000.
A carved agate scent bottle is shaped as a dog in a begging stance on his hind legs. His hinged neck features a gold and white enamel collar inscribed ‘Toujour Fidele’ and it stands on a gold base. A similarly carved agate scent bottle in the form of a seated dog forms part of a mid-18th century carved agate combination scent bottle and snuff box with a hunter, in the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection, which was gifted to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1996. The bottle dates from circa 1760 and carries an estimate of £2500 to £3500.
A striking French Art Deco lapis lazuli and diamond hard case features an eye-catching platinum mounted and rose cut diamond thumb piece and catch in the form of the Egyptian God Horus. Its glittering outstretched wings on the front offset against the bold colour create a dramatic effect. It dates from circa 1925 and is estimated to fetch between £1500 and £2000.
The collection will be offered at Dreweatts auctioneers in a sale of Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Luxury Accessories on November 23, 2022.
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