The iconic spencer-churchill necklace is for sale. The Spencer-Churchill necklace is an heirloom that dates back 150 years and provides insight into the high-profile social connections of one of the most important English families in modern history.
Queen Victoria, the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill, the Vanderbilts, and Princess Diana are just some of the illustrious people who have been associated with this piece of jewelryand the family that made it.
Other noteworthy people include the Vanderbilts. The item can currently be purchased at Hancock's London for the price of £125,000, which is approximately equivalent to $150,000. Since it was manufactured, the necklace has never before been offered for sale to the general public until now.
The Managing Director of Hancocks London, Guy Burton, stated in a newsstatement that:
“„From a sentimental gift to a historic jewel, this is the story of a family necklace and the famous people it connects. It’s an utterly unique piece of jewelry, both in its design and concept and in the family history and social connections of those whose names it carries.- Guy Burton
The Victorian-Era Necklace Designed By The 7th Duke Of Marlborough For His Wife
Around the year 1875, John Spencer-Churchill, the 7th Duke of Marlborough, designed a necklace in the style of the Victorian era for his wife, Frances, who was born in 1822 and died in 1899.
The design of the goldcollar set is broken up by eight oval lockets with glazed backs, seven of which include engravings of the initials of the owner's children on the front of the lockets. The letters are encased in multicolored enamel with floral wreaths and bows made of white ribbon around the perimeter.
The complete names of all of their children as well as the dates of their births have been etched by hand on the reverse side of the ovals.
Frances was the daughter of the 3rd Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry, and she was the chatelaine of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. John was the 7th Duke of Marlborough, and Frances was the chatelaine of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Both John and Frances were members of aristocratic families. During their life, the couple maintained strong ties to the British royal family, and Frances was even childhood friends with Queen Victoria (1819-1901).
Their son, Randolph, who lived from 1849 through 1895 and was a Conservative politician and the father of Winston Churchill, who lived from 1874 until 1965, was a member of the social circle of Edward, the Prince of Wales.
Jennie Jerome, an American heiress whom Randolph would later marry, was initially introduced to him by the Prince. Both Winston Churchill and Princess Diana are related to each other through their maternal lines.
They share ancestry with Charles Spencer, the Third Lord of Spencer (1675-1722), and Anne Churchill, who was the wife of Charles Spencer. Burton says:
“„The Spencer-Churchills were at the very heart of British society and politics for two centuries and this piece, and the names it carries reflect their status and influence in a way almost no other family dynasty could match. Its fascinating provenance deserves study by historians equally as much as jewelers.- Guy Burton
The couple had a total of 11 children, including five sons and six daughters. However, three of the couple's sons did not make it past their infant years. Seven of their children's likenesses were chosen to be engraved on the item.