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Lot Essay
These superb Art Déco diamond earrings formed part of the exceptional jewel collection of the late Vera Hue-Williams, the well-known socialite and racehorse breeder of the 1940 and 50s.
Born Vera Sklarevskia in Kiev at the beginning of the 20th century, together with her sister Olga and mother Baroness Kostovsky, Vera fled from Russia to Paris in 1917 with few possessions other than jewels hidden within their clothes.
During the course of her colourful life Vera married four times but it was with her third husband Thomas Lilley, chairman of the family shoe company Lilley & Skinner, that Vera founded the Woolton House Stud at their home Woolton Hill, near Newbury. Successfully buying, breeding and training bloodstock their horses went onto win many Classic Races including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Irish Oaks. Alongside her success as an owner-breeder, Vera was a leading light of racing's social scene. Together with her husband, Vera would entertain lavishly giving large parties that often included her old friend and fellow flat-racing personality 'Porchy', Earl of Carnarvon.
Such a glamorous social life demanded equally glamorous jewels, and Vera delighted in buying and receiving jewellery of the highest quality throughout her life. The majority of her collection, offered for sale at Christie's, Geneva, in May 1995, was an exemplary group of Art Déco jewels, each lot an example of that period's striking design and great style. The following earrings, which have remained with her family since the 1990s, are further testament to Vera's exceptional taste and elegance.
Born Vera Sklarevskia in Kiev at the beginning of the 20th century, together with her sister Olga and mother Baroness Kostovsky, Vera fled from Russia to Paris in 1917 with few possessions other than jewels hidden within their clothes.
During the course of her colourful life Vera married four times but it was with her third husband Thomas Lilley, chairman of the family shoe company Lilley & Skinner, that Vera founded the Woolton House Stud at their home Woolton Hill, near Newbury. Successfully buying, breeding and training bloodstock their horses went onto win many Classic Races including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Irish Oaks. Alongside her success as an owner-breeder, Vera was a leading light of racing's social scene. Together with her husband, Vera would entertain lavishly giving large parties that often included her old friend and fellow flat-racing personality 'Porchy', Earl of Carnarvon.
Such a glamorous social life demanded equally glamorous jewels, and Vera delighted in buying and receiving jewellery of the highest quality throughout her life. The majority of her collection, offered for sale at Christie's, Geneva, in May 1995, was an exemplary group of Art Déco jewels, each lot an example of that period's striking design and great style. The following earrings, which have remained with her family since the 1990s, are further testament to Vera's exceptional taste and elegance.