On Tuesday, June 17, Artcurial\u2019s Furniture & Art Objects department will put up for auction a unique piece: the oldest and most accurate known replica of the famous Queen\u2019s Necklace, one of only three identified worldwide. This spectacular jewel, composed of nearly 650 diamonds totaling 2,800 carats, symbolizes one of the greatest scandals of the Ancien R\u00e9gime. The original was commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress Madame du Barry from German jewelers B\u00f6hmer and Bassenge. After the king\u2019s death, it remained unsold until Jeanne de La Motte, a ruined countess, orchestrated an elaborate fraud involving Queen Marie-Antoinette without her knowledge. Although the queen never wore the necklace or took part in the scheme, her reputation was deeply tarnished by the affair. The replica offered at auction, preserved by the family of Geneva jeweler Lucien Baszanger (1890\u20131971), a descendant of Bassenge, was made based on the original now-lost model whose diamonds were dispersed by Jeanne de La Motte. This piece has been featured in several films, including Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France (Jean Delannoy, 1955), and exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles. Its estimated value is between \u20ac30,000 and \u20ac50,000.<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[8,41],"class_list":["post-2404","events","type-events","status-publish","hentry","category-art-market","category-vente-aux-encheres"],"acf":{"image_dapercu":2413,"img_a_la_une":2413,"client":[325],"date_cpi":null,"date_debut":"20250613","date_fin":"20250617","event_localite_liaison":[1183],"active":true,"active_pressroom":true,"active_agenda":true,"dossier_presse_fr":"","dossier_presse_nl":"","dossier_presse_en":"","fichiers_supp":[{"fichier_supp":2405,"nom_fichier_supp":"Communiqu\u00e9 de presse","desc_fichier_supp":""}],"images_gallerie":[2410,2408,2412,2411,2409,2407,2406]},"yoast_head":"