LONDON.- A sparkling Empire-style chandelier will be the highlight of Bonhams Period Design sale on December 10th in London’s Knightsbridge. Manufactured for Asprey and Company, and with an exciting theatrical provenance, the shining light is estimated at £10,000-15,000.

This tent and bag sixteen light chandelier is made of gilt brass and Swarovski-Strass cut glass, and measures 310cm in drop and 104cm in diameter.

This chandelier of cascading glass was used to dress the set for the meeting room at Buckingham Palace for the production of 'The Audience' with Helen Mirren as the Queen at the Gielgud Theatre. A review of the opening night from the 'The Stage' (6th March 2013) commented on the set design: 'The set is beautiful. The palace meeting room is exquisitely recreated as is the drawing room of Balmoral...'

Another highlight of the sale which also has a Royal Provenance (this time, one that isn’t staged), is an early 19th century French 'Palais Royal' jewellery casket, formed as a miniature dressing chest in the Empire taste.

It is believed that this chest was originally owned by Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (25 April 1776 – 30 April 1857), and fourth daughter of King George III.

This pressed gilt brass and mother of pearl veneered piece measures 25cm high, 15cm wide, and 8cm deep, and is estimated at £600-900.

The pink silk-lined interior of the chest contains two scraps of paper inscribed in ink. The first reads: “This pretty toy was given to Georgina when she was ten years old by the Princess Mary Duchess of Gloucester, who had requested to see her”; the later note simply states: “Bought from Charlotte, April 1855”.