The wedding gift from Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to his bride Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland, the historic Fabergé tiara, is up for auction for the first time. The Fabergé tiara will go under the hammer in the upcoming “Magnificent Jewels” sale at Christie’s on 15 May in Geneva. It will be offered with a pre-sale estimate of CHF 230,000–340,000 / $ 230,000-340,000 at the Christie’s auction.
Composed of nine graduated pear-shaped aquamarines, old, cushion and rose-cut diamonds is of symbolic design with forget-me-not flowers tied with ribbon bows, signifying true and eternal love, pierced by arrows representing cupid, a token of endearment, attraction and affection.
It was the Grand Duke’s mother, Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia who was also a keen Fabergé collector who encouraged him to order his wedding present at the atelier Fabergé in St Petersburg.
On the day of the wedding, Princess Alexandra wore the traditional Hanoverian nuptial crown- the diamond-set coronet-which had been in her family for more than a century, commissioned in 1761 for the wedding King George III of England and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
The Fabergé tiara, her own wedding gift from the Duke, followed later since its commission took long to make the desired piece.
The rare jewel will be revealed for the first time in public at the auction curated by Christie.