Extravagant jewellery which belonged to woman who inspired the character Lady Chatterley will go on sale for more than £6,500.
Lady Ottoline Morrell was a flamboyant aristocrat, society hostess and patron of the arts, who is believed to have inspired D.H Lawrence’s famous character with her love affairs.
Twelve items, including diamond rings, silver earrings and bright pendants with valuable stones will go on sale.
Estimates suggest the combined cost will top more than £6,500 when the items go to auction at Woolley and Wallis Auctioneers of Salisbury, Wiltshire, on October 26.
Lady Ottoline Morrell was a flamboyant aristocrat, society hostess and patron of the arts, who is believed to have inspired D.H Lawrence’s famous character with her love affairs
Twelve items, including diamond rings, silver earrings and bright pendants with valuable stones will go on sale
The most expensive item is believed to be an early 20th century yellow diamond cluster ring, which is expected to fetch up to £3,000.
Lady Morrell, who was born in 1873, lived a life of luxury and surrounded herself with some of the most well to-do people.
She became friends with famous writers, poets and artists including Virginia Woolf, T.S Elliot and D.H Lawrence.
Lady Morrell was the first cousin of the Queen Mother and enjoyed an ‘open marriage’ with Liberal MP Philip Morrell, who she married in 1902.
It is known that she had a catalogue of high-profile affairs, including with philosopher Bertrand Russell, painter Augustus John and artist Dora Carrington – which many feel is the inspiration behind Lawrence’s famous character.
The most expensive item is believed to be an early 20th century yellow diamond cluster ring, which is expected to fetch up to £3,000
In total, it is believed the 12 items will fetch more than £6,500 when they go to auction on October 26
The items will be auctioned at Woolley and Wallis Auctioneers of Salisbury
Lady Morrell, unlike Lady Chatterley, is not known for having sex in a woodshed although she did have an affair with a stonemason known as Tiger which may have helped shape the character.
She was not a massive fan of the character and was said to have been hurt by the portrayal. In a letter to friend Virginia Woolf, speaking about Lawrence she said ‘I was so angry I could hardly finish his letters’.
It is believed that she has inspired at least a dozen other character in novels, including in books by Aldohous Huxley, Osbert Sitwell and again by Lawrence – who used her to inspire Hermione Roddice in Women in Love.