PASTE DEMI-PARURE, POSSIBLY FRENCH, 18TH CENTURY
Composed of giardinetto and cascading foliate motifs, set throughout with circular and oval-cut green, pink and red pastes, accented by opalescent paste cabochons, mounted in silver with closed-back settings, comprising a necklace, pair of pendent earrings, stomacher and three brooches, the necklace accented by similarly-set lozenge-shaped clusters, a few paste stones deficient, accompanied by two loose paste stones (one red, one green), lengths: necklace 39.0cm, pendent earrings 6.7cm, stomacher 16.4cm, brooches 3.5cm-8.4cm, fitted red leather case with tooled exterior, the central gilded cartouche with polychrome detail, featuring floral, foliate, rocaille and scrolling motifs (6)
Footnotes:
By repute, the suite was owned by Henry Edward Fox, 4th Baron Holland (1802-1859) and Lady Mary Augusta Fox née Coventry (1812-1889) who lent it to Queen Mary's mother, then known as Princess Mary Adelaide (1833-1897), when she was about 17 years of age for a ball they hosted in her honour. After the ball, the suite was offered to Princess Mary Adelaide who accepted the gift and is said to have worn it often. Upon her death, the suite was sold to a friend who left it to Mme Hélène Bricka (1847-1914). Upon Mme Bricka's death the suite was given back to Queen Mary (1867-1953), who later gave it to Mrs Davis Taylor of Southsea. The paste suite is accompanied by a handwritten note detailing this provenance from Dr Edward James Davis Taylor of 20 Clarence Parade, Southsea who was the sole executor of Mme Bricka's estate. The suite is also accompanied by a typed copy of Mme Bricka's Will, dated 1st March 1914.

From 1885, Mme Hélène Bricka was a tutor in English, French and German to Queen Mary when Princess Mary of Teck. Upon Princess Mary's marriage to Prince George of Wales, Mme Bricka became Companion-Secretary to her mother, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. She later tutored Queen Mary's children, before retiring to Pimlico, where she passed away in 1914.

'For a similar French 'Harlequin' suite, dated 18th century, see Beresford Ryley, A., 'Old Paste', (London, 1913), pl. XVII'