Who owned the Hope?...

.

An attempt to map the ownership of a legendary stone.

Feel free to amend. More info at the Hope Wikipedia page...

.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Basic Info

• Origin : Discovered between 1640-1667, at the Kollur mine, in India
• Shape history :
  • Original size : 115.28 carat
  • Re-cut in 1678 to a 67.125-carat stone, known as the Bleu de France
  • Appeared in 1812 as a 45.54 carat stone
  • Slightly re-cut by Harry Winston to get its present shape
• Weight : 45.52 carat (9.10 g)
• Estimated value : $200–$250 million USD

Owners

• 1650-1669 : Jean Baptiste Tavernier (Tavernier on Wikipedia...)
• 1669-1715 : Louis XIV
  • Acquired : Bought from Jean Baptiste Tavernier, cut by Jean Pitau
  • Bequeathed : upon his death, inherited by his great grandson, Louis XV
• 1715-1774 : Louis XV
  • Acquired : inherited upon the death of his great-grandfather, Louis XIV
  • Bequeathed :
• 1774-1792 : Louis XVI
  • Acquired : inherited upon the death of his grandfather, Louis XV
  • Bequeathed : after Louis XV's imprisonment, the crown jewels are stolen between September 11-17, 1792, from the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble
• 1792-0000 : Cadet Guillot
  • Acquired : Stolen from the crown jewel collection, stored at the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble
  • Bequeathed :
• 0000-0000 : Lancry de la Loyelle
• 0000-0000 : Carolina von Braunschweig
• 1805-0000 : George IV
• 0000-0000 : Lady Conyngham
• 1812 : Daniel Eliason
• 1824-1839 : Henry Philip Hope
  • Acquired : bought from Daniel Eliason
  • Bequeathed : upon his death, in 1839
• 1839-1849 : Estate of Henry Philip Hope (10-year court battle)
• 1849-1862 : Henry Thomas Hope
  • Acquired : inherited from the estate of Henry Philip Hope, his uncle
  • Bequeathed : upon his death, to his wife Anne Adèle Bichat
• 1862-1884 : Anne Adèle Bichat
  • Acquired : inherited upon the death of her husband (December 4, 1862)
  • Bequeathed : upon her death, in 1884
• 1884-1901 : Henry Francis Pelham Clinton Hope
  • Acquired : inherited upon the death of his grandmother, Anne Adèle Bichat, in 1884. Honoring the bequest, he added Hope to his surname upon reaching majority, in 1887.
  • Bequeathed : Sold in 1901 to pay off debts
• 1901-1902 : Adolph Weil
  • Acquired : bought from Henry Francis Pelham Clinton Hope
  • Bequeathed : sold to Simon Frankel
• 1902-1908 : Simon Frankel
  • Acquired : bought from Adolph Weil
  • Bequeathed : sold to Salomon Habib
• 1908-1909 : Salomon Habib
  • Acquired : reportedly on behalf of Sultan Abdul Hamid II
  • Bequeathed : sold through an auction of Salomon Habib's assets, after his death in 1909
• 1909-1910 : Simon Rosenau
  • Acquired : bought at auction
  • Bequeathed : sold to Pierre Cartier in 1910
• 1910-1911 : Pierre Cartier
  • Acquired : bought from Simon Rosenau
  • Bequeathed : sold to Edward Beale McLean on January 28, 1911
• 1911-1941 : Edward Beale McLean
• 1941-1947 : Evalyn Walsh McLean
• 1947-1949 : Walsh-McLean Trust
  • Acquired : Given in custody to the trustees of Evalyn Walsh McLean
  • Bequeathed : sold to Harry Winston by the trustees ot Evalyn Walsh McLean to settle the debts of her estate
• 1949-1958 : Harry Winston (on Wikipedia...)
  • Acquired : bought from the trustees of Evalyn Walsh McLean
  • Bequeathed : donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
• 1958-0000 : Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
  • Acquired : donation by Harry Winston