Virginia Cherrill's diamond ring set for a brilliant display
**Headline: Historically Significant Sapphire Ring Once Owned by Silent Film Actress Virginia Cherrill to be Auctioned**
In the world of Hollywood history, a significant piece of jewellery is set to go under the hammer. The sapphire and diamond cluster ring, reputedly a gift from the Maharaja of Jaipur, once owned by the silent film actress Virginia Cherrill, is to be auctioned by Woolley & Wallis.
Virginia Cherrill, born in rural Illinois, rose to fame in the early 1930s, becoming a sought-after figure in the cinema industry. Her career began unexpectedly after she met Charlie Chaplin at a boxing match, leading to her starring role as the blind flower-seller in his iconic film, City Lights. This role, which became the object of affection for the main character, played by Chaplin himself, catapulted Cherrill to stardom.
City Lights, a silent film written, produced, and directed by Chaplin, features a journey of misadventures and a tragic love story. The film was well-received by audiences on its release in March 1931, having taken two years to make, with the opening scene alone taking 342 takes. Subsequently, it was recognised as one of the most significant achievements in American cinema, with the American Film Institute naming it the 11th greatest American film of all time in its prestigious 2007 ranking.
Cherrill's acting career saw her working with acclaimed directors such as John Ford and Tod Browning. She shared the spotlight with Janet Gaynor in the 1931 Gershwin musical Delicious and expanded her career internationally, starring in two of James Mason's early films. Following the success of City Lights, Cherrill became a sought-after figure in early 1930s cinema.
Virginia Cherrill's life and marriages reflected the tumultuous and often public lives of early film stars. Her most notorious marriage was to Cary Grant, which ended in divorce due to alleged abuse. After Grant, she married English peer George Child Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey, becoming the Countess of Jersey until their divorce in 1946. However, it was at the age of 40 that Cherrill found happiness when she met Florian Kazimierz Martini and they were married for 48 years.
The ring being auctioned today carries with it the aura of Cherrill's brief but notable relationship with Cary Grant and her life as a celebrated actress and social figure, highlighting a personal artifact from a fascinating period in cinema and society. The connection to the Maharaja of Jaipur adds an exotic provenance to the ring, indicating it was a precious gift reflecting cultural ties and the glamour of the era's elite.
The jewellery piece is significant not only because of its exquisite craftsmanship and the rare cabochon sapphire but also because it symbolizes a fascinating link to early Hollywood history and the social circles of its time. The auction of this historical piece offers a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to own a piece of Hollywood's golden age.
- The auction of the sapphire and diamond cluster ring, previously owned by Virginia Cherrill, presents a rare opportunity for collectors to own a piece of both Hollywood's golden age and the exotic provenance it shared with the Maharaja of Jaipur.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, the historically significant sapphire ring, once cherished by the celebrated silent film actress Virginia Cherrill, serves as an emblem of her brief yet remarkable relationship with Cary Grant.
- The allure of Virginia Cherrill's life, from her stardom in City Lights to her marriages with Cary Grant and the English peer George Child Villiers, resonates within the home-and-garden settings as the sapphire ring passes into a new collector's hands, connecting the modern day to the glamour and intrigue of early Hollywood and its celebrities.
