Pave: Bring Back The Royals!

Le jour 346 de Sarko

Among the great missions of the Louvre is the development of the museum’s collections, with a particular focus on works of art and precious objects belonging to members of the former French Royal family. The crown jewels are important among the nation’s treasures and we are thrilled to see the brooch of Empress Eugénie returning to France.

Henri Loyrette,
président directeur général, Musée du Louvre,
thrilled by the repatriation of royal swag
(infra)

BLING-BLING REPUBLIC
The Republic's Tax Dollars At Work

RARE FRENCH JEWEL RETURNS HOME

April 23, 2008 (JCK) - The Louvre was able to negotiate the return of a 141-ct. diamond brooch, part of the French crown jewels, 121 years after it was sold at auction from the same museum.

The brooch was reportedly purchased for approximately $10.8 million. It was recently estimated by Christie’s to be worth $6 million to $8 million.

... The brooch was created by François Kramer for the wife of Napoléon III, Empress Eugénie [Spanish countess, Eugénie de Montijo—Doña María Eugénia de Guzmán Portocarrero, Countess of Tèba] (1826-1920). On May 12, 1887, the French Crown Jewels were sold at public auction by order of the Third Republic, in the Salle des Etats of the Louvre. The buyer, for $135,000, was the jeweler Emile Schlesinger acting for Caroline Astor of New York.

After one hundred twenty-one years and two or three Republics, Republican France gives up the grudge.

PFFT (What is this?): Republican collectibles ½ | Royal swag 4 | Rayonnement français 0