Christie’s announces that jewellery and works of art from the Collection of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, will be sold in London on 13 and 14 June 2006. This important and unparalleled historic sale will celebrate and pay tribute to Princess Margaret’s renowned beauty, style and taste. Comprising over 800 items, with estimates ranging from under £100 to over £500,000, the auction will feature a superb selection of jewellery and Fabergé as well as a broad range of furniture, silver, works of art and decorative objects.

On Tuesday 13th June 2006, jewellery and Fabergé from Princess Margaret’s collection will be offered in two sessions at 3.00pm and 6.00pm. Princess Margaret’s collection of jewellery spans every stage of her life. With opportunities at every price level, highlights range from a gilt hedgehog brooch valued at £50 to the historic Poltimore Tiara. The collection includes pieces that were inherited, given or personally acquired by The Princess and reflects her celebrated style and timeless elegance. Many of the lots in the sale will be highly sought after not only for their provenance but also because they remain fashionable today.

The collection is accentuated by important and historic pieces including an antique diamond rivière, circa 1900, accompanied by three handwritten notes naming the necklace after a previous owner as the ‘Lady Mount Stephen’ which was given to Princess Margaret by her grandmother Her Majesty Queen Mary (1867-1953) (estimate: £200,000-300,000). The collection includes the cherished five-row Art Deco pearl and diamond necklace which Princess Margaret wore when photographed by Cecil Beaton for her 19th and 21st birthday portraits (estimate £15,000-20,000), and a marquise-cut diamond ring of 5.17 carats (estimate: £60,000-70,000).

Among the most treasured pieces is the ‘Poltimore Tiara’ which was originally created by Garrard in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore (estimate £150,000-200,000). The Princess wore it on several occasions including her wedding and, in its alternative form, as a stunning diamond fringe necklace and scroll brooches prior to the wedding.

The Princess – like her grandmother – valued the work of Fabergé highly and there are several wonderful pieces in the sale. A superb translucent mauve enamelled silver clock applied with gold decorative elements was a gift from Queen Mary (estimate: £600,000-800,000). Another green hardstone Fabergé clock in the collection was originally purchased in 1914 for £65 by Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich, grandson of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia (estimate: £70,000-100,000).

Princess Margaret’s artistic patronage is particularly notable in her personal collection of jewels dating from the 1960s and 1970s. Demonstrating her acute eye and sense of style for unique and technically virtuous creations are examples from the workshops of British ‘craftsmen-jewellers’ of this period such as Andrew Grima and John Donald. Occasionally the design of a jewel would involve Princess Margaret own personal input, such as the diamond-set brooch cast by Andrew Grima in yellow gold in 1967 directly from the piece of lichen sent to him by The Princess as a prototype (estimate: £700-900).

A further selection of silver, furniture and works of art from Princess Margaret’s private collection will be offered in a day sale at Christie’s London on Wednesday 14 June 2006 at 10.00am. The sale comprises 600 lots of furniture, works of art, ceramics, glass, pictures, books, silver and other more personal effects. The auction offers collectors a chance to acquire interesting items with estimates starting from under £100 to over £30,000.

Leading this section of the sale is Portrait of Princess Margaret painted in 1957 by society and state portrait artist, Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988) (estimate on request). Annigoni rose to fame in 1954 following a commission from the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers to paint the young Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The painting became his most recognised and famous work. Sir Alfred Munnings, former President of the Royal Academy declared Annigoni to be ‘the greatest painter of the age’. The painting of H.M. The Queen was followed by a portrait of H.R.H. The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and the portrait of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret which is offered in the sale.

The silver and object of vertu section of the sale features some 250 lots, led by a magnificent and extensive dressing table service by Paul Storr, London, 1837 (estimate: £25,000-35,000). A gift from Queen Mary circa 1952, the service had belonged to a member of the Household staff who sold it privately to Queen Mary.

Amongst the fine selection of English and Continental silver is a pair of silver-gilt wine coasters made in 1803 for the Royal goldsmiths and jewellers Rundell, Bridge and Rundell by the London goldsmiths Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith (estimate: £10,000-15,000). Also by Benjamin Smith is a pair of silver-gilt sauceboats of 1835 (estimate: £4,000-6,000). The sale features a broad range of domestic and personal items such as muffin dishes, photograph frames, inkstands and other useful objects, many pieces engraved with the initial and coronet of The Princess; estimates start from £50.

In addition to those already mentioned, many other gifts from Queen Mary also feature prominently in her granddaughter’s collection. Included amongst the furniture and works of art is a French giltwood firescreen inset with a charming floral needlework banner which is stamped with Queen Mary’s initial ‘M’, while also being marked with her Private Property inventory label (estimate: £800-1,200). Additional works of art with fascinating historical importance include Queen Alexandra's fan, presented to her by her sister Marie Empress of Russia and given to Princess Margaret by her grandmother Queen Mary in 1932. It is signed by Ch-Vuillemot and M.Dumas and dates from the late 19th century (estimate: £400-600).

Amongst the 100 lots ceramics and glass included in the sale is Princess Margaret’s French porcelain casket painted with the initial ‘M’ in the form of a painted garland and inscribed “Specialement pour S.A.R. La Princesse Margaret d'Angleterre” (estimate: £500-800) and a wide range of commemorative wares, dinner and tea services with estimates ranging from £100 to £5,000 which will appeal to collectors of Royal memorabilia.

For full details of the Sale, visit the Christie's Website. All Images are copyright 'Christie's Images 2006'.