A necklace thought to be linked to a scandal that prompted the downfall of the French queen Marie Antoinette has been sold at auction.
The Georgian piece, which contains about 500 diamonds, was bought for $4.81m (£3.8m) – almost double the amount estimated by Sotheby’s auction house.
The last queen of France was guillotined in 1793 at the age of 37, along with her husband at the height of the French Revolution.
It is believed some of the jewels in the necklace sold on Wednesday were the original ones at the centre of the “affair of the diamond necklace” in the 1780s, that may have hastened Marie Antoinette’s demise.
History
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. Here’s a brief overview:
Early Life
1. Birth: November 2, 1755, in Vienna, Austria
2. Parentage: Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis I
3. Marriage: Married Louis XVI of France at 19
Queen of France
1. Coronation: May 1774
2. Initial Popularity: Well-liked for her beauty, fashion sense, and charitable works
3. Declining Popularity: Criticized for extravagance, perceived Austrian allegiance, and France’s economic struggles
French Revolution
1. Estates-General of 1789: Financial crisis led to widespread discontent
2. Storming of the Bastille: July 1789, marking the revolution’s beginning
3. Royal Family’s Imprisonment: October 1789
4. Constitutional Monarchy: September 1791, limiting Louis XVI’s powers
5. Royal Family’s Flight to Varennes: June 1791, attempted escape, further eroding popularity
Trial and Execution
1. Arrest: August 1792
2. Trial: October 1793, accused of treason and inciting foreign invasion
3. Execution: October 16, 1793, guillotined in the Place de la Révolution (now Place de la Concorde)
Legacy
1. Misconceptions: Often wrongly attributed with saying “Let them eat cake” (likely fabricated)
2. Symbol of Excess: Represented the monarchy’s perceived extravagance
3. Tragic Figure: Sympathetic portrayal in art, literature, and film
Interesting Facts
1. Fashion Icon: Popularized French couture and hairstyles
2. Motherhood: Had four children, but only one survived childhood
3. Support for Arts: Patronized composers, writers, and artists
