A BELLE ÉPOQUE RUBY AND DIAMOND HEART PENDANT

A BELLE ÉPOQUE RUBY AND DIAMOND HEART PENDANT, formed of latticework old circular-cut diamonds within a border of calibré-cut rubies and diamonds and suspending from a diamond-set bow in platinum on gold on fine-link platinum neck chain, detachable pendant fitting, pendant length 4.8cm, chain length 42cm

Provenance: Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank and Hon. Laura Ellen, Lady Rank and thence by descent

The necklace belonged to Lady Rank (1890–1971), wife of Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank, the British industrialist and film producer. Renowned philanthropists, the couple acquired the Sutton Manor Estate, Hampshire in the 1930s, where they entertained prominent figures of the film world, including Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart. In 1953, they established the J. Arthur Rank Group Charity, now The Rank Foundation.