August 10, 2016: Christie’s has announced the highlights of its ‘Out of the Ordinary’ Sale beginning September 14, 2016. Items featured include:
A slice of Queen Victoria’s wedding cake- Queen Victoria (1819-1901). A slice of wedding cake, 1840. In presentation box, inscribed ‘The Queen's Bridal Cake/ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, FEBY. 10/ 1840’, beneath a Royal crown; together with Queen Victoria’s signature on paper with Royal cypher. Estimate: £800-1,200. This lot is sold with a letter from the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle relating to the cake. This slice of cake was present at Queen Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert, on February 10, 1840 — 176 years ago. The couple’s cake weighed nearly 200 lbs, and measured almost three meters in circumference.
The Duchess of Windsor’s earrings- The Duke (1894-1972) and Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986). A pair of shell and turquoise earclips, circa 1965. Each with mottled shell (Nerita versicolor) in grey and white, with cabochon turquoise cap with tendril detail, unsigned. Estimate: £8,000-12,000. King Edward VIII’s reign over Britain lasted just 326 days before his abdication in December 1936. After his abdication the former King became the Duke of Windsor, and Wallis Simpson his Duchess. Formed from the mottled shells of a marine mollusk, Nerita versicolor, these ear clips feature turquoise tips surrounded by gold-coloured spirals.
A cigar case owned by kings- Edward VII (1841-1910) and Edward VIII (1894-1972). A large crocodile and silver mounted cigar case owned by King Edward VII while Prince of Wales and later given to Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor. London 1894. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.
First owned by King Edward VII, this crocodile and silver mounted cigar case went on to be inherited by King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, making it the only lot in the Out of the Ordinary sale to have been owned by not one, but two British monarchs. In the center of the case, a silver crowned garter badge is the symbol of the Prince of Wales.
The Duke of Wellington’s spectacles- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1795-1852), a pair of blued steel spectacles, first half 19th century. Round lenses and folding wire sides with arrow-shaped ends (one arm broken), dark-red leather, gilt-tooled label to Interior, ‘JONES/ 62/ CHARING CROSS’, an ‘X’ to each side. The spectacles come with a manuscript memorandum in ink as follows, “These spectacles belonged to the Duke of Wellington. They were given to me on leaving Stratfield Saye to return to India on the 31st December 1841. I bequeath these to my dear Child Louisa Michal June 14th 1843 Simlah C. H. Churchill”. Estimate: £1,000-1,500. Made at some point during the first half of the 19th century, this pair features round lenses and folding wire sides, and comes with its original dark-red leather case. They are accompanied by a letter confirming that the spectacles were given directly to their former owner by the Duke himself.
Napoleon’s wallet-Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821). A brown leather wallet, early 19th century. Double-sided with embossed Imperial crowned ‘N’s in gilt, overall 7 ¾ in (19.7 cm) wide. Estimate: £2,000-3,000. Embossed with Napoleon’s gilt imperial crowned ‘N’ cypher, this brown leather wallet once either belonged to the Emperor Napoleon or a member of his court.
Queen Victoria’s underwear- Queen Victoria (1837-1901). A pair of split drawers, late 19th century. The fine linen drawers with drawstring waist embroidered ‘VR 36’ beneath a crown. Estimate: £2,000-3,000. These linen drawers were once worn by Queen Victoria — the British monarch who reigned for 63 years and seven months, from 1837 to 1901. Embroidered with a crown and the initials ‘VR’, the imperial undergarments feature a central split. Devotees of Queen Victoria’s attire will be delighted to learn that her nightdress is among other royal lots offered in the Out of the Ordinary sale.
Christie’s has a global presence in 46 countries, with 12 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Mumbai. Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.
The Out of the Ordinary sale will be held on September 14 at Christie's South Kensington.
