Press Release Geneva

For Immediate Release

marie-beatrice.morin@sothebys.com Geneva | +41 22 908 48 14 | Marie-Beatrice Morin | marie - beatrice.morin@sothebys.c om London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Weigman | matthew.weigman@sothebys.com Simon Warren | simon.warren@sothebys.com | Kelly Signorelli-Chaplin | kelly.schaplin@sothebys.com

SOTHEBYS GENEVA TO AUCTION

A SUPERB SUITE OF IMPERIAL JEWELS

-- A Magnificent and Unique Diamond Parure By Tradition presented by Ottoman Sultan Abdl Hamid II For the Birth of The Last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan in 1874 --

-- Containing Jewels which may have formed part of a Gift from Empress Catherine I of Russia to Sultan Ahmed III to end the Siege of Pruth in 1711 --

SOTHEBYS GENEVA is delighted to announce that it will present in its sale of Magnificent Jewels on Tuesday, 15 November 2011 a superb and unique suite of imperial jewels - probably the most important parure of antique coloured diamond jewels to appear at auction in the last 50 years. Coming from a European private collection, these magnificent jewels have not appeared on the open market since 1963 and are offered for sale with an estimate in the region of $10 million*.

Commenting on the forthcoming sale of this magnificent and unique diamond parure, David Bennett, CoChairman of Sothebys Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East and Co- Chairman of Sothebys Switzerland said: It is difficult to overestimate the rarity of such jewels. This parure is one of the most sumptuous suites of antique jewels I have ever seen and its appearance on the market after nearly 50 years in a private collection is a major event. Comprising a necklace, a brooch and a pair of earrings, this diamond parure dates from the mid-19th century and contains jewels which may have formed part of a gift presented by Empress Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great of Russia to the Twenty-Third Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III (1673-1736) to negotiate peace after the Pruth River Battles. At the end of 1710, under the influence of Charles XII of Sweden, the Ottoman Sultan declared war on Russia. Ill-prepared, Peter the Great and his troops found themselves surrounded by the Ottoman army on the Pruth River in July 1711. As remarkably related by Voltaire in his History of the Russian Empire under Peter the Great (1759)1, after days of siege, Catherine urged the Czar to seek for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In accordance with the Oriental custom, by which one should never approach a sovereign or their representatives without gifts, Catherine gathered all the jewels she had brought with her, both family heirlooms and gifts from her husband, and sent them in secret alongside the Czars letter to the Grand Vizier. The gift of the jewels was duly accepted and a peace treaty was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.

Voltaire, Histoire de lEmpire de Russie, sous Pierre-le-Grand (1759), Chapitre XX.

2

The jewels from the Russian Empress are believed to have then passed into the Ottoman Treasures. By tradition, they are said to have been used by the Sultan Abdl Hamid II (1842-1918) for the present necklace which he offered to the wife of the Khedive Teufik of Egypt, possibly on the occasion of the birth of their son and heir Abbas II Hilmi Paa (1874-1944). Born HH Princess Emine-Nacibe

Hanimefendi, the "Valida Sultana" or "Valide Pasha" became the most powerful woman of the region, seconding her son in the conduct of the State until 1914, when Egypt became an independent Sultanate under a British protectorate. Banned from British territory, the last Khedive of Egypt and Sudan retired to Geneva where he died in 1944. His son, the Prince Muhammad Abdul Moneim (1899-1979) was husband to Her Imperial Highness Princess Neslishah Abdul Moneim who consigned the parure when it was sold to the current owner at Christie's London on 22 May 1963.
Valida Sultana Emine Hanm of Egypt (1858-1931)

MAGNIFICENT JEWELS
Sale BeauHtel Beau -Rivage, Geneva Tuesday, 15 November 11 Session 1: 10:00 AM Session 2: 2:00 PM Session 3: 7:00 PM

Exhibition Beau auHtel Be au -Rivage, Geneva Saturday, 12 November 11, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday, 13 November 11, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday, 14 November 11, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday, 15 November 11, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (selection of lots)

ALL PRESS RELEASES ARE PUBLISHED ON WWW.SOTHEBYS.COM IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST * Pre-sale estimates do not include buyers premium