Jewelry Belonging to Victoria, Lady de Rothschild, Heads to Auction

London—Jewelry from the collection of the late Victoria, Lady de Rothschild, is heading to auction next month at Dreweatts’ London showroom.

The auction is scheduled for March 8 and 9, featuring her jewelry as well as a selection of silver and tableware.

Victoria, Lady de Rothschild, was born in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sept. 17, 1949, as Victoria Lou Schott, according to her obituary in The New York Times.

Born into a wealthy family, her father, Lewis M. Schott, was a lawyer and a businessman, while her mother Marcia Lou Whitney was a descendant of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Victoria was a successful woman in her own right, earning a B.A. in economics and later studying at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

In 1973, she married British financier Evelyn de Rothschild, a member of the Rothschild family. They had three children together, Jessica, Anthony, and David.

In addition to being a style icon, Victoria was a philanthropist, patron of the arts, and an avid collector, particularly of art and design pieces by 20th- and 21st-century designers.

She died Jan. 18, 2021, at the age of 71.

Her style was simple and clean, said Dreweatts, and so many of her jewels are statement beads, made by modern designers and craftsmen.

“She was a true champion of modern design and supported upcoming designers and artisans, which is demonstrated by the exciting pieces offered in the sale,” said James Nicholson, deputy chairman and international head of jewelry, silver and watches at Dreweatts.

“Her impeccable taste was much celebrated and I’m sure therefore that this collection will prove to be very popular.”

Among the highlights of the sale is a Modernist style gold-colored disc necklace by American jeweler and sculptor Irena Borzena Ustjanowski, known artistically as “IBU.” The necklace is estimated to sell for £4,000 to £6,000 ($5,400-$8,100).

A Boucheron pink sapphire and ruby ring (seen above) in the shape of a coiled serpent will also hit the auction block. Its eyes are set with cabochon emeralds and its tail is set with a black diamond.

The signed piece is estimated to sell for £2,000 to £3,000 ($2,700-$4,000).

Also heading to auction is a lapis lazuli and gold-colored necklace from contemporary British designer Jacqueline Ryan.

Ryan’s nature-inspired, organic forms spoke to Rothschild’s style, said Dreweatts, making the designer a favorite of hers.

The statement necklace is expected to sell for £1,500 to £2,000 ($2,000-$2,700)

A necklace by Algerian designer Taher Chemirk, also in the Modernist style, also is part of the sale.

The necklace features an azurite crystal set with a pair of brilliant-cut diamonds in a bezel setting with circular panels of cornelian and banded agate.

Chemirk’s work is characterized by his simplified shapes and clean lines as well as his experimentation with new and unusual materials, said Dreweatts.

The necklace is expected to sell for £700 to £1,000 ($950-$1,300).

A gold-colored and stainless-steel necklace by German designer Dorothea Prühl is another auction highlight.

Titled “Haken,” the necklace features circular links with lightning bolt-shaped gold-colored connectors.

Similar to Rothschild’s pieces from Jacqueline Ryan, Prühl’s work is also inspired by nature. The necklace is expected to sell for £300 to £500 ($400-$675).

A collection of Rothschild’s personal items was auctioned at Christie’s in December 2021, prior to her death that January, bringing in nearly £3.8 million ($5.1 million).