The Washington herald., 1911-12-16
GEMS OWNED
BY ]. PIERPONT MORGAN

The history of priceless gems often is
one of mystery, even OF crime; and per-
haps II the ups and downs OF many of
the jewels comprising the fine collection
OF J. Pierpont Morgan, which for some
time has been on view at the Victoria and
Albert Museum, in London, were known,
there might be more than one sensa-
tionaI contribution to the chronique scan
daleuse.
Why the great financier persists in
keeping his gems in England, instead OF
having them in his home In America, to
give his countrymen a chance to admire
them, has been a matter OF speculation
all along. He certainly owns some rare
specimens. and all of them, at one time
or another, have passed through some
famous collections; others have disap-
peared mysteriously from the custody of
their original owners; still others have
remained hidden for centuries. But there
are some the successive ownership of
which has been traced successfully from
the day they left the makers or cutters
hands UP to the present day.
None of these things, however, ex-
plains the presence in Mr.. Morgan's col
lection of the fine green jade cup, richly
mounted in gold and decorated with
enamel-no doubt of Italian workman
ship-which belonged to the late EN-
press Frederick OF Germany. There are
but two more cups like 1t in existence,
one at Dresden and the other at Munich
in the Royal Museum.
The most romantic story is told in re-
lation to the Golden Chain of Honor OF
Christian II OF Saxony. It is composed
of thirty pierced ovals Of open scroll
work decorated with enamels. with the
electoral arms and a white &C. 1t was
worn by the elector and is seen in the
portrait of him In the Green Vaults at
Dresden. This chain passed into the
possession of Henry OF Guntherod (who
died in 161D, and was buried with him
in the Sophien KirChe at Dresden. In
l74O the grave was opened, the chain
taken and deposited in the Green
Vaults, the famous "Gruene Gewoelbe"
of the royal Saxon house at Dresden,
the treasures of which in 1906 were re-
moved to prevent their falling into the
hands of Napoleons army. When the
danger was over most of the treasures
were returned, but this chain was lost"
and remained so for nearly a century.
1t turned up at a public sale in Dresden
on June q 1898. Herr Guttmann, Of
Berlin, sold II to Mr.. Morgan. 1t is the
work of Michael Botza, the celebrated
Dresden goldsmith, and dates from 1900
The numerous badges of high orders
include one of the order of the Annun-
ziata in enameled gold. The knights of
the order took a solemn oath that they
would not wear its insignia with that of
any other order. There also are in the
Morgan collection several badges of the
Order OF St. Michael.
or the many beautiful pendant jewels
one Of the finest is that composed OF
wrought gold. enamel and ambcrgris,
which hitherto was believed to be wax.
The value Of a large piece of ambergris
such as this in the sixteenth century
would have been very great, and the
ieweI could only have been made for
person Of great wealth; its peculiar per-
fume never seems TO leave the material;
the centerpiece of this jewel is a group
Of a woman and three children. 1t
originally belonged to the Wencke col
lection at Hamburg. and was acquired
at the Splitter sale In Paris.
Another little romance is enshrined in
the pendant jewel composed of two
blocks of rock crystal mounted in en-
ameled gold and made for the Duke of
Lerema, a prominent figure in the reign
Of Philip III. 1t was the property OF a
member Of this family when It was de-
posted in the Convent Of ValadoIid
where for many years It remained until
claimed by an heiress OF that family, who
carried II off TO Germany.
Still another romance concerns the cir
Cular jewel of wrought and enameled
gold, the handiwOrk of Ghilbertl. and
made for Princess Cosaima de Medici,
which was stolen from the latter's son in
November. 1862 by Lorenzo the Magnif-
cent.
Another very interesting and beautiful
relic is a gold medal of ArChduke Maxi