According to Sotheby’s, the earrings were made for Mary Althea Beatrix Talbot, Princess Doria Pamphilj (1815-1858). The daughter of John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, a Catholic peer, she was designated by Queen Victoria as one of her train-bearers at her Coronation in 1838. On that occasion she is reported to have met Filippo Andrea V Doria Pamphilj Landi, Prince of Melfi (1813-1876), whom she married in 1839. Most of the Doria Pamphilj jewels sold in 2016 had the same provenance, so the coordinating parures may well have been made for Princess Mary Althea as well. All of the jewels are made in a naturalistic style, following the 19th century taste for floral jewels. Her sister Gwendoline (1817-1840) had married Prince Marcantonio Borghese in 1835. The sisters were famous hostesses in their day, and it is no surprised that they owned impressive jewels. This unusual sapphire brooch, of floral design, belonged to Gwendoline Borghese. According to the auction note, it was made from a tiara that had belonged to Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Borghese (Napoleon’s sister).
Gesine Pogson Doria Pamphilj, Mrs Floridi, wore an important “Ruby” parure (or of other red stones) at the 2017 Ball. This parure, which looks complete, comprises a huge tiara, of floral design with a line of flower-heads set en-tremblant on top, a necklace with pendants and an assorted pair of earrings. The following photos were taken at the 2017 Beneficence Ball of the Doria Pamphilj–Santa Francesca Romana Foundation. All rights reserved to the Doria Pamphilj Foundation.
The striking design of the necklace, aptly described as “late Victorian”, is however interrupted at the back by the addition of a diamond chain. I believe that the back section is still with the heirs to the Doria Pamphilj collection as Gesine Pogson Doria Pamphilj, Mrs Floridi, wore a similar element as a pendant to her diamond rivière at the 2019 Ball. This pendant is attached to a small “bar” that matches the garland-like necklace chain. In addition to the aforementioned pendant, Gesine Pogson Doria Pamphilj, Mrs Floridi, wore an impressive emerald and diamond tiara at the 2019 ball, with a pair of emerald earrings. The following photos were taken at the 2019 Beneficence Ball of the Doria Pamphilj–Santa Francesca Romana Foundation. All rights reserved to the Doria Pamphilj Foundation.
The Sapphire and Diamond Parure is another beautiful suite of 19th century jewels. It is composed of a very large necklace with seven pendants, a pair of earrings, and a tiara that is visibly assembled from separate elements: two sprays of flowers, arranged vertically or horizontally, and a large brooch that forms the centrepiece. To the best of my knowledge, no sapphire jewels have been publicly sold by the heirs of the Doria Pamphilj family.