Tennyson Family Jewels Head to Auction for the First Time

By Annie Davidson Watson | April 03, 2023

The prolific poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson was England’s poet laureate during Queen Victoria’s reign and recipient of the Chancellor’s Gold Medal at Cambridge. Now his descendants are offering pieces from the family’s collection as part of Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on April 26.

“Alfred, Lord Tennyson was a towering figure of the Victorian era. His descendants also made significant contributions to public life, especially in Australia, and became part of the Tennyson legacy,” said Bonhams’ head of jewelry for the U.K., Emily Barber, in a statement. “It is a pleasure to be able to bring items from the family’s personal collection to auction for the first time.”

The headliner of the 18 Tennyson lots is a diamond hair ornament (pictured at top) once owned by Margaret Cicely Tennyson, wife of Alfred Browning Stanley Tennyson (the poet’s grandson) and daughter of the 10th Viscount Strathallan. It has an estimate of £8,000–£12,000, or approximately $9,857–$14,785.

tennyson watch — *Le Roy & Fils watch bangle (circa 1894) in gold with old brilliant-cut diamonds, estimate $2,465–$3,697; Bonhams*

Another highlight is a gold, enamel, and diamond watch bangle by French watchmaker Le Roy & Fils that had belonged to the wife of Hallam (Lord Tennyson’s elder son), Audrey, who often transcribed the poet’s work and became one of the founders of Australia’s first maternity hospital in the outback. The timepiece case’s back is engraved “Audrey Tennyson. Freshwater. I. W. Xmas 1894.” (I.W. would be the Isle of Wight, where they lived.)

tennyson necklace — *Seed pearl necklace (circa 1900), one of two pearl necklaces in a lot, estimate $986–$1,479 for both; Bonhams*

Also up for auction is a pair of Audrey’s pearl necklaces, one a pearl necklace from the late 19th century, the other a double row of seed pearls. This lot includes an original, handwritten 1922 letter from Hallam to Margaret Cicely Tennyson (his nephew’s wife): “I give you the necklace of pearls because she [Audrey] always wore them and would like you to have them. As you know, she was very fond of you. The pearls took years to collect and are carefully graded. I should like them to go to your son’s wife or to Rachel.”