Beschreibung:

A mid 19th century longchain Composed of openwork fancy-links with elongated quatrefoil decoration, to a similarly-designed tapered barrel clasp, length 98.0cm, cased by Read & Son, 77 Jermyn Street, London, SW Provenance: The collection and inheritance of an aristocratic British family. This necklace is believed to have formerly belonged to Lady Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Lambton (née Campbell) (1837-1909). According to family tradition, in 1863, she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Alexandra of Denmark to the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII. The Lambton family were direct descendants of Mary Tudor (1496-1533) through her second marriage to Charles Brandon, the first Duke of Suffolk. Mary was the seventh child of Henry VII, and the sister of Henry VIII. Mary was considered Henry's favourite sister and it is likely he named his famous battleship the Mary Rose in her honour. The heritage of the family extends to and beyond their direct descendance from Henry VII through his daughter Mary Tudor. The family has lineage from the pinnacle of noble families in England including the Baron St John of Bletso, the Earls of Bolingbroke and the Herbert family, the Earls of Pembroke. Three generations of the family held senior military posting in the Indian Army in the 19th century at the forefront of the British Empire. Several pieces are understood to have belonged to Lady Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth Lambton (nee Campbell), whose mother was Lady Sarah Mary Compton Cavendish (1813-1881). Lady Cavendish served as Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1842. This collection exemplifies the styles and taste of one of society's premier families over the past centuries and epitomises the best in jewellery design and craftsmanship available. For additional lots from the collection, please see: Lots 3, 5, 27, 39, 163, 164, 165 and 166.