FAMILY PEARLS GIVEN BY LORD CURZON TO HIS DAUGHTER WHEN SHE MARRIED OSWALD MOSLEY TO SELL AT BONHAMS
At the 24 April Fine Jewellery sale in New Bond Street, Bonhams will be offering a number of pieces of jewellery that once belonged to Cynthia Mosley, one of the Curzon sisters. The items are expected to fetch as much as £80,000 each.
Cynthia (1896-1966) and Irene Curzon (1896-1966), were the elder daughters of the Edwardian statesman and Indian Viceroy, Lord Curzon, (1859-1925). The Curzon sister’s wealth and social position put them at the centre of the British political scene from 1920 until the end of World War II.
In many ways the Curzons represented one of the last flowerings of the privileged world of the British haut monde. Irene's coming-out party in 1914 included supper for 400 and a surfeit of carnations, white roses and orchids – not to mention dukes and duchesses. She went on to establish herself at the centre of the Prince of Wales’s glittering social set.
Meanwhile, Cynthia met and married the rising political star Oswald Mosley. The guests at the wedding included King George V and Queen Mary, Leopold III and the King and Queen of the Belgians. Despite his initial reservations about Mosley, Curzon showered his daughter with presents including his late wife’s pearls, the same to be offered at Bonhams April auction.
In spite of their privileged position in society, in 1924 the Mosleys joined the Labour Party and Cynthia campaigned with her husband. Her charm and good nature were the perfect foil for her mercurial husband; something he chronically took advantage of by numerous infidelities and increasing rudeness to her in public.
Cynthia’s elegant dress, costly furs and magnificent pearls were often remarked upon whilst campaigning, and the Mosley’s lavish lifestyle often attracted negative comment in the press. After their third child, was born 1932, Cynthia, was shattered to discover her husband’s affair with Diana Guinness (née Mitford). She died in 1933 of peritonitis after undergoing an appendectomy. After her death, Irene became surrogate mother to their children, and when Mosley was interned in 1940, she became their official guardian.
The photograph of Cynthia Mosley shows her wearing a double row of pearls, some of which are believed to form the necklace (£60,000 - 80,000 ) to be offered. In the photograph of Irene Curzon, she wears the ruby and diamond brooch (£25,000 - 30,000) in her hat.
Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
