ONE LAST LOOK.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 5

ONE LAST LOOK.

SELLING HER TREASURES. COUNTESS CARNARVON’S JEWELS. LONDON. May 16. One of the most famous collections of beautiful things in the world —that of the late Mr. Alfred de Rothschild, which was bequeathed by him to Almina Countess of Carnarvon —will come under the hammer at Christie’s to-day. No sale of such importance has taken place since that of the Brownlow treasures in 1923. Well-known people went to Christie’s yesterday-for an inspection of the treasures —the china, the pictures and articles of vertu. Aimina Countess of Carnarvon came in during the afternoon to have one last look at the treasures which have for so long graced her house in Scamore Place. Dealers from a dozen countries will to-day be bargaining for the little jewelled cases, known as necessairos, made by craftsmen, whoses names are now classic to lovers of beautiful bijouteries, for great ladies. Tiny gold-mounted bottles are fitted into some of the cases. Little implements for the toilet also have their place, and on top of everything else there lies, in one necessairc a wonderfully fashioned little pair of scissors, not much more than an inch long, of finest steel and gold. A Louis XVI tablet case of gold, set with oval plaques, delicately painted with nymphs and cupids, bears a little message written in diamonds. "Souvenir d’amitie” some lover wrote to his lady with the aid of a cunning jeweller. The tiny sparkling letters still flashed out their message in the saleroom yesterday centuries after the gift was made. There are needle cases, snuff boxes, scent cases, vinaigrettes, and miniature cabinets in addition to the necessaires in this group of delicate little things made for people who lived exquisitely.