The magnificent “Crown of the Andes” occupies center stage of auction 11/21 at Sotheby’s, where it was sold in just 65 seconds for 55,000 pounds($145,000). Buyer was J. Asscher, a Dutch jewel dealer. The crown was made by the people of Popayan, high in the Columbian Andes, in 1593,to be places on Madonna in their cathedral in gratitude for escape from a plague. The crown is encrusted with the largest collection of emeralds in the world--453 gems--With a total weight of 1,251 carats.

United Press International · [ca. November 1963]

[Information from item housing] Jewelry