George IV jewellery collection raises $47,500 in UK auction
A collection of jewellery that George IV presented to a lady in waiting has sold
A jewellery collection once owned by Prince Regent George IV (1762-1830)has sold at a UK auction to raise money for monastery repairs.
The sale, which took place yesterday (November 11), saw the collectionachieved 30,000 ($47,704), as a bidding war ensued due to its fascinating provenance. The set was originallygifted by the Prince Regent to Lady Charlotte Cotes, to be worn at the wedding of his daughter.
The jewellery was crafted from gold and set with peridots. Featuring a necklace, two bracelets, earrings and five brooches, it was accompanied by a letter from George IV requesting Lady Cotes' acceptance ofhis gift, which read:
"My dear Miss Coats [sic]. I write in great hast by command of the Prince Regent to beg you to accept the set of Chysolites which I send with this Note. He Hopes You will wear it at the Wedding as a proof of his regard. I fear I have not said half enough to Your Sister but they are talking to loudly I scarcely know what I am saying. Yours sincerely, George. April 30th, 1816."
The jewellery wasgiven to monks at the Community of the Resurrection by a distantrelative of the Prince Regent in order to help raise the 2.3m needed for repairs to their West Yorkshire monastery. In total, the auction brought 50,000 to the fund.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has an authentic strand of hair from mad King George III, as well as a selection of fine Georgian furniture.