Onassis’ jewellery goes under the hammer
Published 11 June, 2008, 10:42
A collection of more than 40 pieces of jewellery belonging to Christina Onassis, daughter of the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, will go under the hammer at Christie's Auction House in London this week.
One of the main lots up for sale is a rare bowenite Buddha designed by the famous Russian artist Carl Faberge. It is estimated to be worth between ₤250,000 and ₤350,000.
The Buddha statuette is part of an extensive collection of jewellery, much of which was displayed on Aristotle Onassis' famous luxury yacht.
“The Buddha is an extremely rare creation by Faberge from about 1903. He made three of them. This one is in bowenite, and the wonderful thing is that the hands and the tongue and the head move. So when Onassis had it on his boat, 'The Christina', it took a private place in his office and he used to take everybody around, but of course with the motion of the boat you had the hands and the tongue and the head moving all the time,” said Raymond Sancroft-Baker of Christie’s Auction House.
Another highlight is a pear-shaped, 38-carat, practically flawless diamond, which Christina Onassis wore on a diamond pendant necklace.
“It is 38 carats and 'D' colour, which is the best, whitest and purest you can find,”Sancroft-Baker told RT.
An almost flawless piece, it'is expected to fetch between ₤1.8 and ₤2.2 million.
discuss it
