Jewellery

A Royal Gift: The Bracelet of Lady Rachel Russell

7 April 2026

Sarah Duncan

Gifted by Queen Victoria in 1837 to the young Lady Rachel Evelyn Russell, this finely engraved turquoise-set bangle of circa 1835 is a rare jewel of exceptional royal provenance. We are delighted to present this beautifully crafted example in our 22 April auction, London Jewellery.

In her diary on Wednesday, 15th of November 1837, the young Queen Victoria wrote, “After breakfast… saw… Ly Tavistock with her little step sister-in-law, Ly Rachel Russell, a delightful child of 11, who sang a little Scotch song very nicely. I gave her a small bracelet.”

London Jewellery

Explore our Wednesday 22 April 2026 auction - a carefully curated sale showcasing some of the most desirable pieces in today’s global market.

Lady Rachel Evelyn Russell (1826-1898) was the daughter of Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford. There is ambiguity as to who her father was. Her mother was married to John Russell, the 6th Duke of Bedford however she was known to have had an affair with the artist Edwin Landseer, 21 years her junior. Many contemporaries believed he was in fact Rachel's father. There are several surviving works by Landseer featuring Lady Rachel as a young child.

In 1856, Lady Rachel married James Butler, the 1st Marquess of Ormonde, they had four children together. Lady Rachel Butler became a novelist and wrote two books: Jessie Cameron: A Highland Story (1857) and The Prophecy (1862).

A turquoise bangle, circa 1835

Of Royal Interest

The polished hinged bangle finely engraved with foliate detail throughout, the central repoussé motif set with an oval cabochon turquoise, between realistically modelled lizard decorations.

Reptiles were prevalent in Victorian jewellery. Although snakes and salamanders (representing rebirth) are more frequently seen, lizards also featured in rare surviving Victorian examples from this period. Lizards held connotations of good fortune.

Queen Victoria herself was famously gifted an ouroboros (a snake consuming it's own tail) as an engagement ring designed by Prince Albert. The trend for naturalism in jewellery, lead by the Romantic movement, was just commencing at this time. It appears that the young Queen, who was a known prolific giver of jewellery, was very much at the forefront of this trend in jewellery design.

“Given to me by her Majesty Queen Victoria, Nov. 15th 1837, R.E.R”

- Inscribed to the Interior of the Bangle

Department

Jewellery

Specialist

Sarah Duncan

Head of Jewellery | London