Jewellery worn by one of the Curzon sisters, who were three of the most talked-about women of the early 20th century, will be sold at Bonhams‘ Fine Jewellery sale at Bond Street on April 24 (020-7447 7447; www.bonhams.com).
A pearl necklace with ruby and diamond clasp, worn by the tragic Cynthia Curzon, is estimated at £60,000-£80,000 and a Van Cleef Art Deco ruby, tourmaline and diamond brooch and earrings suite at £25,000-£30,000. Lady Cynthia was the daughter of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who gave her the pearls (they were his late wife’s) when she married the Fascist leader Osward Mosley-her glamour when campaigning was considered by the press of the day to be at odds with her politics.
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After the arrival of their third child in 1932, Lady Cynthia-known as ‘Cimmie’-discovered her husband was having an affair with one of the Mitford sisters, Diana, whom he subsequently married. Lady Cynthia died of peritonitis in 1933, aged only 34.
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