When this Egyptian Revival necklace popped up in my e-mail inbox, I believed, “oooh, fairly.” However once I learn the accompanying press launch and realized how cool its story actually is, I knew I needed to share it with you.
Beautiful, isn’t it?? I didn’t take a lot discover of this lovely piece the primary (or second, or third) instances I watched The Satan Wears Prada, however I’ll by no means miss it once more. I like how the colourful colours of the vintage enamel, turquoise, and coral look peeping out of the clear traces of Meryl Streep’s Vogue editor persona’s stylish tailor-made shirt and jacket.
Even higher? This Egyptian Revival necklace wasn’t created as a prop for the film, it’s an actual vintage from the 1800’s, commissioned by a future King as a present for his mistress, a well-known actress of the day.
Let’s get a more in-depth look and dive into the previous.
Right here is the necklace in all its glory! It’s a implausible instance of nineteenth century Egyptian Revival, a development that was spurred in that period by Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt and the excavation and opening of the Suez Canal within the 1860’s. However the tendencies of the day weren’t the actual purpose why this piece was made.
It’s time to introduce you to the necklace’s first proprietor, Lillie Langtry. A society magnificence first well-known for her loveliness and later for her expertise, Langtry determined to pursue a stage profession after playwright Oscar Wilde inspired her to present appearing a attempt.
Regardless of her marriage to Edward Langtry, Lillie was additionally the longtime paramour of of the Prince of Wales (later, King Edward VII). Her royal lover lavished her with items and constructed a home for the 2 of them to share in Bournemouth by the late 1870’s. Based on household historical past, that is when the Prince introduced his woman love with the Egyptian Revival necklace.
Left, King Edward VII & Queen Alexandra. Proper, Lillie Langtry in 1881
Why was Egyptian Revival the right present for Ms. Langtry at that second in time?
Properly, as a result of the actress was about to star in Anthony and Cleopatra at London’s Princess Theater. Based on household sources, Langtry wore this precise necklace for her opening evening of the present earlier than it was changed by a bigger costume model for future performances.
It’s value mentioning that Langtry’s wage for Anthony and Cleopatra was, on the time, the very best ever paid to an actress. She additionally established the “Lillie Syndicate,” her profitable enterprise empire of movie star product endorsements, which was groundbreaking for the period.
So Lillie wasn’t only a fairly face who acquired items from princes, she was a businesswoman getting issues completed.
Langtry’s Egyptian Revival necklace has now returned to Hancocks London, the identical jeweler who initially made the piece within the late 1800’s.
The piece incorporates a gold necklace with a serpent’s head clasp suspending a winged enamel scarab, a big faience scarab, a carved carnelian shell, and tassels of coral drops, Ram’s heads, turquoise cabochons, and carved moonstones.
Even higher: the necklace nonetheless resides in its authentic Hancocks field from the late 1800’s.
Based on Man Burton, Managing Director of Hancocks London:
“The Prince of Wales commissioned Hancocks to make this piece for his mistress on the time, Lillie Langtry, who was considered some of the glamorous and exquisite society ladies of her period. He was recognized to be deeply enamoured with Ms Langtry and is believed to have introduced her with the necklace throughout their time collectively, marking it as a token of affection from a royal admirer.
[…] For the Prince of Wales, it might have made good sense to fee this piece for Ms Langtry given she was showing as Cleopatra within the West Finish.”
The necklace’s journey didn’t finish with Lillie Langtry. In 2003, it was auctioned by a personal vendor whose grandmother had obtained it as a present from the actress. Hancocks London re-acquired the piece and shortly loaned it to a Hollywood manufacturing, facilitating the piece’s look within the iconic 2006 movie, The Satan Wears Prada.
The Egyptian Revival necklace was then bought to an American collector, and only recently has been re-acquired by Hancocks as soon as once more.
Isn’t that an unbelievable jewellery story? When you’d prefer to see this storied Egyptian Revival necklace in actual life, Hancocks London shall be displaying it in early October in honor of the West Finish manufacturing of The Satan Wears Prada that’s coming to London on the identical time.
See extra Egyptian Revival jewellery in my archive right here or my Pinterest board right here.
All photographs and data c/o Hancocks London.
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