Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-12
MisfellareGns.
ne rreneh Crows Jewels.


The sale of the French crown jewels.
for some months under debate in the
courts Of Paris. has at length been
authorized, and the rare gems of which
they are composed will soon be brought
under the auctioneer's hammer for the
benefit of sick and disabled workmen and
other objects Of public benefit.
The collection is of great historical in
terest, and contains among other precious
objects, the ..Brpdie du Reliquaire," COM
posed Of diamonds cut in France at the
time when the art was first practised, and
now worth between two and three thous-
and pounds a sword valued at ten thous-
and pounds and the celebrated diamond
known as the Regent" one Of the larg
est in the world, formerly estimated 10 be
worth four hundred and eighty thousand
pounds. It is hardly likely that the stone
would now find any bidders at such
price. and the probability is that. should
1t be put up to auction, it would be bought
in rather than sold for comparatively
trifing sum. The other diamonds are
estimated at ten or twelve million Of francs
between five and six hundred thousand
pounds-and are for the most part with
out historic value or any particular artistic
merit.
The "Brodie du Reliqnaire'' just men,
toned, a watch presented by the Dey of
Algiers to Louis XIV, and collection Of
decorations presented by foreign sovereigns
to the Kings OF France, worth in the
aggregate not more than eight thousand
pounds, are TO be retained and placed for
exhibition in the gallery of Apollo, at the
Louvre, while the rest are to be brou kht
70 the hammer. Few nations can boast Of
a more magnificent collection of crown
Jewels than France, and although, with
the exception Of the Regent" this does
not include any very large or celebrated
diamonds. it is especially rich in these
precious stones.
Diamonds first came into general use
Ms ornaments for crowned heads in Europe
when Louis de Bergheim had found out
the art of cutting them. This discovery
was made in the 18th century. and as
Charles the Bold possessed the first dia-
mond cut by the new process, it is proba-
BILE that his jewels formed the nucleus of
the French crown diamonds. Louis XI.
was of too grasping and acquisitive dis
position not to have added to the treasure,
and his successors, Charles VIII. Louis.
XII. and later on the Valois. acquired
large collections of gems. The first Off
cial inventory of the French Crown jew
els was made in September, 1851, during
the reign Of Louis XIV.
In October. 1854, they were removed to
the "Garde-Nieuble," massive edifice
prepared for their reception; up to that
time they had been In the custody of the
Comptroller General Of the Kings House.
hold, an Office held at the time of their
removal by Thierry, Marques de Vile
d. Array. Among the names of the COM
missioners engaged upon the transfer and
valuation of the Regalia we find that of
BOehmer, one of the vendors of the IA
nous diamond Necklace" the history
OF which Dumas's novel has made so fla
miliar. A private inventory had been
made for the Kings use some 10 years
previously. but this was the first public
and official list of the Jewels of the crown.
The number of diamonds mentioned in
this document is 1882. The Revolution
was of course a critical period for such a
collection, hut the Assembly did not fail
10 take precautions for its safety. BY de-
crees dated May and June. 1871. they or
dered new and complete inventory to
be made in consequence OF rumors which
Huu SOt dbtOdu Tic HtOsb NdluiOlt
jewels were being spirited away. Amongst
the diamonds once belonging to the crown
of France was that known as the "Sancy,"
which weighed over 33 carats. and was of
remarkable brilliancy and beauty Ac-
cording to one account, it was brought
over from Constantlnople by an ambassa-
dor who purchased il there for an enor-
nous sum. but the most popular account
20 hot . kni 80 II n 4
Duke Of Burgundy. who wore it in his
hat at the battle of Morat in 1476.
After the Dukes defeat it was found up
o. the field of battle by Swiss soldier.
and sold to French gentleman named
Sancy. In this family it remained until
Henry III. commissioned descendant of
the purchaser TO raise recruits in Switzer-
land. and being shortly afterwards driven
from the throne by his subjects, the King
borrowed the Sancy diamond in order to
pay the troops. The owner sent il by one
of his servants. who was murdered on the
way. and on his body being afterwards
disinterred the precious diamond was dis
covered. the faithful servant having swal-
lowed 1t when he found that it was in dan
ger OF being stolen from him. The dla-
mond was sold in 1880 to the Emperor of
huSsto iOr INC SUM Ol GZU.VUV.
The magnificent collection which is
about to be offered for sale has been more
than once in danger of being altogether
lost. In 1872. during the anarchy which
followed the bloodshed of August 10th
and September I'd. the "Garde- Meuble"
was entered, and the entire collection of
jewels stolen. Several persons were ar
rested and portions of the stolen property
found upon them, and at length Sergent.
one of the commissioners appointed to
take charge of the treasure, received an
anonymous letter which led to the discov-
cry Of the rest of the gems, including the
famous Regent" diamond. in ditch in
the Alice des veuves, in the Champs
Ulysses. Sergent was himself suspected
Of completely in the robbery, and earned
for himself the nickname of Agate"
from the magnificent cup of agate onyx.
known rs Able Suger's chalice. which
formed part of the spoil. and which was
Afterwards placed in the cabinet of antiqui-
ties in the National Library. The other
most renowned crown diamonds in the
world are the Nizam, the property of the
Ruler Of Hyderabad. which was found in
A.