Luxist

Italy's Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy auctioned off 41 lots of rare jewels at Christie's in order to help pay her taxes. The auction included the Faberge tiara shown above. The piece is referred to as the Empress Josephine Tiara because the briolette-cut diamonds (the ones shaped like teardrops )were given to the French empress by Tsar Alexandra I following her divorce from Napoleon I. The piece was created around 1890 and is mounted in silver and gold. 24/09/08