ADAM'S Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches 13th May 2025

49 47 A VICTORIAN GOLD NECKLACE, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY Composed of a continuous row of wide oval-shaped links, in 14K gold, with case from ‘J. Mavec & Company, New York, NY, length 42cm € 8,000 - 9,000 Provenance: Accompanied by a receipt from J. Mavec & Company Ltd, Jewelry and Objects of Vertu, on 946 Madison Avenue in New York, dated November 14th 1998. Purchased at the time by Mrs Miranda de Toulouse-Lautresc for $15,500.- Countess Miranda de Toulouse-Lautrec (née Redfield) was an American whose re- markable journey led her from Michigan to the French countryside, where she became a respected figure in agriculture. Raised in the American Midwest, Miranda held a degree from Harvard University and had already led an accomplished life before it took an unex- pected turn. Following the death of her first husband, she set off on a global journey with her young daughter, a voyage that ultimately brought them to France. Miranda later married Charles-Constantin de Toulouse-Lautrec, a descendant of the celebrated artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, whose vivid paintings famously captured the spirit of the Moulin Rouge. In 1970, the couple purchased a 330-acre estate named ‘1 Essart’, transforming it into a thriving hav - en for horse and sheep breeding. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Miranda, as she embraced rural life in France along - side her daughter Laurie and son Alex. On February 16, 2024, Miranda passed away in Verneuil-sur-Vienne at the age of 89. Her life was one of grace, strength, and cultur - al richness, leaving behind a legacy that bridged continents and celebrated a deep bond between American roots and French tradition.