174 - GOLD RUBY MAKARA HEAD BANGLE (KADA)

GOLD RUBY MAKARA HEAD BANGLE (KADA) Entirely crafted from repoussé gold, hinged on the reverse, finished with two Makara heads featuring ruby-set eyes; the central orb is fitted with a screw-opening mechanism and engraved with “Eugénie,” 1869, French import hallmark for 14-karat gold (585 ‰), inner circumference approximately 21.0 cm, gross weight 96.95 g. RUBY-SET 'MAKARA HEAD' GOLD BANGLE (KADA) The bangle, featuring a repoussé design, is hinged on the reverse side, with two makara head terminals and ruby-set eyes; the central orb has a screw-on mechanism that opens, inscribed “Eugénie, 1869,” with a French import hallmark for 14-karat gold; inner circumference approx. 21.0 cm, gross weight 96.95 grams. Footnotes: According to tradition, this bracelet was given by Emperor Napoleon III to Empress Eugénie in 1869; it is a piece in the Orientalist style then in vogue at the height of the Second Empire. The 1860s saw the French court develop a passion for the arts and motifs of India and the colonial world as a whole, a craze fueled in particular by the 1867 World’s Fair in Paris, where jewelers and artisans from around the world showcased their creations. Empress Eugénie, known for her passion for jewelry and for her role in shaping the Second Empire style, particularly appreciated pieces that combined European craftsmanship with exotic influences—a taste that this bracelet, with its Indian-inspired makara motif, would have perfectly exemplified. According to legend, this bangle was given by Emperor Napoleon III to Empress Eugénie in 1869, a piece reflecting the French colonial tastes that were in vogue at the height of the Second Empire. The 1860s saw a marked fascination among the French court with the arts and motifs of India and the wider colonial world, fueled in part by the 1867 Exposition Universelle in Paris, where jewelers and craftsmen from across the globe exhibited their work. Empress Eugénie, renowned for her passion for jewelry and her role in shaping Second Empire style, was known to favor pieces that combined European craftsmanship with exotic influences—a taste that this bangle, with its Indian-inspired makara motif, would have exemplified. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at the preferential rate (currently 5.5%) on the hammer price and buyer’s premium for works of art, collectibles, and antiques if the item remains in the EU. VAT on imported items at the reduced rate (currently 5.5%) applied to the hammer price and buyer’s premium for works of art, collectibles, and antiques, provided the item remains within the European Union. For further information on this lot, please visit Bonhams.com