A VICTORIAN GOLD NECKLACE, SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY ...

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€8,000 - €9,000

A VICTORIAN GOLD NECKLACE, SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY Composed of a continuous row of wide oval-shaped links, in 14K gold, with case from 'J. Mavec & Company, New York, NY, length 42cm Provenance: Accompanied by a receipt from J. Mavec & Company Ltd, Jewelry and Objects of Vertu, on 946 Madison Avenue in New York, describing the necklace as '15K Victorian wide gold link necklace', dated November 14th 1998. Purchased at the time for $15,500.- Countess Miranda de Toulouse-Lautrec (née Redfield) was an American whose remarkable journey led her from Michigan to the French countryside, where she became a respected figure in agriculture. Raised in the American Midwest, Miranda held a degree from Harvard University and had already led an accomplished life before it took an unexpected turn. Following the death of her first husband, she set off on a global journey with her young daughter, a voyage that ultimately brought them to France. Miranda later married Charles-Constantin de Toulouse-Lautrec, a descendant of the celebrated artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, whose vivid paintings famously captured the spirit of the Moulin Rouge. In 1970, the couple purchased a 330-acre estate named ‘1 Essart’, transforming it into a thriving haven for horse and sheep breeding. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Miranda, as she embraced rural life in France alongside her daughter Laurie and son Alex. On February 16, 2024, Miranda passed away in Verneuil-sur-Vienne at the age of 89. Her life was one of grace, strength, and cultural richness, leaving behind a legacy that bridged continents and celebrated a deep bond between American roots and French tradition.