I’m still gathering comments for Anne Gracie’s giveaway, so if you want a chance to win The Winter Bride, check out yesterday’s blog.
Kristine Hughes of Number One London sent me this article about an upcoming auction at Christies, which includes a gold bracelet containing a lock of the Duke of Wellington’s hair.
The auction is selling heirlooms belonging to the Marquess of Londonderry and Baron Raglan, whose ancestors have connections to Wellington. Lord Castlereagh, later to become the 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, was Foreign Secretary during the Napoleonic Wars. He was also Wellington’s friend. The 1st Baron Raglan was married to Wellington’s favorite niece. The article includes interesting pieces of the family histories.
Baron Raglan must sell the heirlooms to pay for the upkeep of Cefnilla Court, the family property. The Marquesses of Londonderry sold their family estate years ago. It is now a hotel. It is not explained what prompted the current sale of these items.
The gold bracelet is valued at somewhere between 1500 and 2500 pounds. Affordable? At least more affordable than Robert Lefèvre’s Portrait of the Emperor Napoleon (£80,000-£120,000).
Would you pay 2500 pounds ($4160) for a lock of Wellington’s hair???? (I am tempted!)
Don’t forget to scroll down and comment on yesterday’s blog for a chance to win Anne Gracie’s The Winter Bride.
And speaking of the Number One London blog, come back next monday when I interview Kristine and Victoria Hinshaw on their upcoming Duke of Wellington Tour!
Perhaps you and Victoria could pool your resources and buy the lock of Wellington’s hair. You could alternate weeks keeping it. 🙂
I hate for these family’s to have to part with their treasures, but I do admire them for keeping their houses in the family and in good condition. So much of history is seen as disposable these days. And anytime one of these auctions comes up I am fascinated at the items families have kept for years and years – some significant, some obscure and some simply fascinating.
And if money was no object I might very well pay 2500 pounds for a lock of Wellington’s hair !
I would love to own a lock of his hair.but not at that price.
You should totally bid on it, Diane 🙂 no one ever has estate sales like this in my neck of the woods….though I did find a cute garden gnome reading a book one time, LOL
If I could have afforded the money, then definitely yes, I’d have actioned the Duke of Wellington’s lock of hair. I wish I had met him in person, and probably flirt as well. He is my idea of a handsome and smart husband potential. 🙂
Would I bid on a lock of Wellington’s hair!? The bracelet/hair would be a key component of The Wellington Museum! I’m going on record here to predict that Artie’s hair brings in way more than 5000 pounds. I wonder if I could take out a home equity loan without Hubby finding out . . . . . . .