Marie Antoinette's Pearls

The Pearls of Marie

Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France who started her reign in 1774 after marrying crown prince Louis XVI , will now be on auction, or so to speak. She was well known for her lavish taste in jewels and clothes, lavish parties, attending masked balls and opera's in Paris and gambling. Now over 200 years later, you'll be able to bid on a necklace made of her pearls.

Before the queen was taken for imprisonment during the French Revolution, she gave a bag of pearls to the Countess of Sutherland to keep safe, which was later made into a beautiful necklace that included the pearls, rubies and diamonds.

The necklace is expected to be auctioned off at Christie’s in London this December and is expected to sell for around $800,000.

The late queen has gotten some attention in recent years with a book by Antonia Fraser, a movie last October ('06) by director Sophia Coppola starring Kirsten Dunst as Marie, both of which shed light on what it may have been like for her to become queen as a teenager.

The fashion world has also taken note. Designer John Galliano just held the 10th anniversary of Dior Couture at the splendid Palace of Versailles. And, Cavalli took inspiration from the famous Hall of Mirrors, making it the backdrop for his spring '08 show in Milan.
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