Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

Of Rothschild family interest: A mid 19th century gold, pearl and black enamel memorial hinged bangle, the upper section centred with a row of half pearls within black enamelled woven crossover design, with small pearl highlights (one missing), the underside engraved: ‘Hannah de Rothschild 5th Sept 1850’, to plain back section, with safety chain, inner diameter 5.3cm. £300-500

The bangle is inscribed for Hannah de Rothschild (1783-1850), daughter of the rich Dutch merchant Levi Barent Cohen. The Cohen family were wealthy linen merchants who had moved from Amsterdam to London in 1770. In 1806 Hannah married the Jewish German banker Nathan Mayer Rothschild, (1777-1836), the third of five sons of Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812) , from Frankfurt, the second generation of the Rothschild banking dynasty.

From 1806 Hannah and Nathan lived in Manchester where Nathan was well established in a community of merchants and textile manufacturers. Hannah became actively involved with the business, consulting on business matters as well as taking care of the household and her growing family of four sons and three daughters. Described as having poise and charm, she was intelligent and with a good business sense. Her letters reveal her to be a constant and valuable support to Nathan, advising first her husband and later her sons on financial and political matters. The family moved to London in 1805 where Nathan was the first of the five brothers to branch into the financial services business. He started the banking firm N M Rothschild & Son Ltd, which, for the best part of 100 years between 1815-1914 was to be the biggest bank in the world. Nathan, the wealthiest of the Rothschild family, as legend has it, was described as ‘the wealthiest man on earth’.

The family lived at Stamford Hill and later they purchased Gunnersbury Park. Nathan died in 1836, his will stated that “my beloved wife Hannah...is always to co-operate with my four beloved sons on all important occasions and to have a voice in all deliberations”. Hannah died on 5th September 1850, and was buried alongside her husband at the Brady Street Ashkenzi Cemetery, Whitechapel, London.