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A piece of British jewellery history with ties to royalty, stage, and screen has returned home after a journey around the world.
The Lillie Langtry necklace, made by London jeweller Hancocks & Co. and dated circa 1870s, has captured imaginations for over a century and now, first after appearing on stage in the West End in the late 1800s, then travelling to America, and subsequently being worn by Meryl Streep in the film The Devil Wears Prada. It has now returned home to Hancocks London, the jewellers that originally made it following a commission from the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).
Guy Burton, Managing Director, Hancocks London, said: “The Prince of Wales commissioned Hancocks to make this piece for his mistress at the time, Lillie Langtry, who was regarded as one of the most glamorous and beautiful society women of her era. He was known to be deeply enamoured with Ms Langtry and is believed to have presented her with the necklace during their time together, marking it as a token of affection from a royal admirer.
“This is a magnificent Egyptian Revival necklace and a stunning example of 19th century craftsmanship. For the Prince of Wales, it would have made perfect sense to commission this piece for Ms Langtry given she was appearing as Cleopatra in the West End.
“The necklace also reflected the renewed interest in Egyptology during the 19th century. The fascination with Egyptian motifs was sparked by Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt and revived by further excavations and the opening of the Suez Canal in the 1860s.”
The necklace’s illustrious journey did not end with Langtry’s stage career. In 2003, it was put up for auction by a private vendor whose grandmother received it as a gift from the actress. Hancocks London was the highest bidder, and it returned to its original home for the first time. It then made a memorable appearance in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, worn by Meryl Streep in her role as the formidable fashion editor Miranda Priestly, introducing the historic piece to a new generation and adding a layer of Hollywood glamour to its rich provenance.
Hancocks London later sold the necklace to an American collector and, after a life as varied and storied as the woman who once wore it, more than 15 years later, the jeweller has re-acquired for the second time to add to its own historic archive.
To coincide with the West End production of The Devil Wears Prada, the necklace will be on display at Hancocks London from early October in the Sackville Gallery at Hancocks London located at 62 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LY.
