An amber necklace and earring suite

The collar composed of articulated brick-linking, the concealed clasp engraved with geometric patterns, suspending three detachable amber bead pendants, each bead surmounted by a stylised floral motif and a tear-shaped drop, accompanied by a pair of earrings en suite, lengths: necklace 46.0cm, earrings 5.9cm, cased by Richard Angell Green, 82 Strand WC

By repute, this suite was bought in 1874 for the wedding of Marion Sambourne to Punch cartoonist Linley Sambourne. It was passed on to their daughter Maud Messel (née Sambourne) of Nymans in West Sussex and then passed on to Anne Messel who first married Ronald Armstrong Jones (the parents of Tony Armstrong Jones who became The Earl of Snowdon on his marriage to Princess Margaret). Anne then married an Irish peer the Earl of Rosse and took the suite with her to Birr Castle in County Offaly. On her husband’s death she brought the suite back to Nymans and passed it on to Victoria Allison (née Messel).