The jewels of Napoléon's adoptive daughter, Princess Stephanie Napoléon, for sale at Christie's - Tatler |
| Posted: 30 Mar 2021 04:29 AM PDT  Portrait of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, circa 1806-1807 The Picture Art Collection / Alamy Stock Photo It has been 200 years next month since the death of Emperor Napoléon, the French military and political leader who led the country following the French revolution from 1804-1814. In a fabulous case of serendipitous timing, Christie's has also recently acquired the jewels of his adoptive daughter, Stephanie de Beauharnais, with nine pieces set to be auctioned on 12 May. The parure includes one tiara, one collier, one pair of earrings, two pendants and brooches as well as one ring and one bracelet, all made in sapphires and diamonds. Born on 28 August 1789, Stephanie's mother died when she was just two years old, and was raised by nuns in the French countryside, until her aunt, Josephine, and her new husband, Napoléon, invited her to live with them. She was adopted by her new father figure, who had no legitimate heirs, so that she could marry the much older Charles, Grand Duke of Baden, as part of a political allegiance. Her adoption granted her a royal title, Her Imperial Highness Princess Stephanie Napoléon, making her a fitting match for the Duke. Although the wedding was not thought to be a love match, they went on to have five children, three of whom survived to adulthood.  The Imperial Jewels of Stephanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden Christie's Images Ltd 2021 According to paperwork found with them, the jewels offered at auction were a gift from Stephanie's cousin Hortense de Beauharnais, the daughter of Empress Josephine and her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais, who was a victim of the French Revolution's guillotine. The parure was then inherited by Stephanie's second daughter, Josephine, Princess of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen. In her will, the pieces are described as being a 'necklace, pendant, earrings, seven pins and a belt' - the latter of which would have been worn underneath the décolleté as was the style in Napoléon's court. It seems Princess Josephine decided to alter the belt, making it into a bandeau tiara, which was more in keeping with the fashion of the time.  Lot 145, IMPORTANT MID-19TH CENTURY SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND CROWN (Estimate CHF 170,000-350,000) Christie's Images Ltd 2021 The sapphires were then passed down to Josephine's eldest son, Léopold, who was married to Infanta Antonia, the daughter of Queen Maria da Gloria of Portugal. The tiara was then combined with additional sapphire brooches from the Portuguese Queen's collection, turning it into the tiara we see today. Subscribe now for a trial offer of 3 issues for £1 plus free digital editions and home delivery. More from Tatler |
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