Master Art

Set to the centre with a square cushion cut emerald, surrounded by four old mine cut diamond set scrolls, accented by four emeralds to the cardinal points, two oval cut and two step cut, all emeralds claw set in gold cut down collets with small diamonds bordering each emerald, the diamonds weighing approximately 0.94 carats total, the central emerald weighing approximately 2.47ct, the brooch in a contemporary Regency fitted ebony box with gold top engraved with provenance inscription, accompanied by GCS report no.5783-3022 giving the Colombian origin opinion for the emerald



The box inscribed:

This broach belonged to Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Augusta, Obt 6 Nov 1817 at 22, & on her lamented demise, was the kind and valued gift of Her Consort, Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg to Mary Anne John Thynne, one of H.R.Hs ladies of the bedchamber, in attendance on that afflicting event, whose wish it is, that it should descend unalter'd to posterity, in lasting and grateful remembrance of its former beloved & illustrious possessor.



Provenance: Formerly The Property of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796-1817)Mary Anne Thynne, Baroness Carteret (D: 1863)Thence by family descent PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALESPrincess Charlotte Augusta was born in London, on 7 January 1796, the only child of the Prince of Wales and Caroline of Brunswick. As her father Prince George was the sole legitimate heir of George III, Charlotte was the heir presumptive to the British throne. After her parents separated in 1798, her father took formal guardianship of Charlotte together with her grandparents, King George III and Queen Charlotte. In 1816 Charlotte married Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saafiled, who would later become King Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians. The young royal couple led predominantly at idyllic Claremont in Surrey, but their happiness was tragically cut short when Charlotte died following childbirth in 1817. Charlotte had become extremely popular amongst the public at large in stark contrast to the unpopularity of her father, the Prince Regent, and her death sparked extreme deep mourning thought the whole of Britain. MARY ANN THYNNE, BARONESS CARTERETMary Anne was the third daughter of Thomas Master, the MP for Cirencester. In 1801 she married John Thynne, later 3rd Baron Carteret of Hawnes (1772-1849), son of Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath and Lady Elizabeth Cavendish-Bentinck. John Thynne was Vice Chamberlain of the Household at the court of George III, and Mary Ann was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Princess Charlotte from 1815 until her death in 1817. As Lady of the Bedchamber, Mary Anne was with Princess Charlotte throughout her two day labour which resulted in the birth of her still born son followed by her own death in the early hours of 6th November 1817.After the death of Princess Charlotte, Mary Anne became Lady of the Bedchamber to Princess Sophia. In 1838 her husband inherited the title 3rd Baron Carteret of Hawnes, and she became Baroness Carteret. Mary Anne died in 1863 aged 86. Condition Report: The emeralds are vivid, they have a few typical inclusions. The diamonds are all present and correct, bright and lively, some variation in colour and clarity as typical of pieces of this period, the brooch fitting has been replaced and there has been a supporting setting around the back of the emerald.
Length: 3.9cm

Measurements of case: 4.1cm x 2.9cm
Weight: 8.6g (without box)