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Auction: 340 - The Numismatic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 488

An Enamel and Tourmaline Ring

The large oval shaped blue enamel plaque mounted with Imperial Russian crown. The shoulders set with two oval tourmalines on a bifuricated band. Band stamped with Russian markings '56' and 'K?'. Ring size 9.5 (S). From the Estate of Tamara Toumanova.

Tamara Toumanova (2 March 1919 - 29 May 1996), born Tamara Vladimirovna Khassidovitch in Siberia, was a Russian-born American prima ballerina and actress. A child of exiles in Paris after the Russian Revolution of 1917, she made her debut at the age of 10 at the children's ballet of the Paris Opera.

She became known internationally as one of the Baby Ballerinas of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, after being discovered by her fellow émigré, balletmaster and choreographer George Balanchine. She was featured in numerous ballets in Europe. Balanchine also featured her in his productions at Ballet Theatre, New York, making her the star of his performances in the United States. While most of Toumanova's career was dedicated to ballet, she appeared as a ballet dancer in several films, beginning in 1944. Appearing alongside Gregory Peck, Gene Kelly, Paul Newman and Christopher Lee. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1943 in Los Angeles, California.

Estimate
$1,200 to $1,800