Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 165, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1919 — ARE CLAIMING KARL’S JEWELS [ARTICLE]

ARE CLAIMING KARL’S JEWELS

Dispute Between Italy and Austria Over Art Collections. Italians Particularly Anxious to Recover Former Austrian Emperor'a “Florentine Gem"” Vienna.—A new turn has been given to the dispute between Italy and Austria over art collectings by the statement that former Emperor Charles has carried off to Switzerland the Imperial Jewels, the whole of which are regarded in Austria as being his private property, but claims for which have been filed by Italy, particularly the Florentine diamond of 133 1-3 carats. The Italian commissioner. Professor D’Ancona, has stated that, this diamond formed part of the collection left to the city of Florence under the will of Anna Maria Medici, but that it was carried off by the house of Austria in

1748 when Duque Leopold became emperor of Austria. He said the Austrian government had been notified of Italian claims to this jewel months ago. and if it permitted. Emperdr Charles to carry it away it. would be necessary to obtain possession of it again. It is unknown here whether the emperor has disposed .of the diamond while in Switzerland in order to pay his living expenses. Professor D’Ancona has carefully traced the history of this remarkable stone which, legend relates, was lost on the battlefield of Granson by Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, six centuhes ago. It was picked up and believed to be a piece of glass and sold for a small sum. It found i-« way to Switzerland, where it was sold -for 11.000 ducats to the duke of Milan, and brought to Rome in ,1601 by Ferdinand Medici. It has been on exhibition years

in the Hofburg museum. Professor D'Ancona pointed opt to the Associated Press correspondent that the Austrians, cannot claim that in surrendering this stone they would be—injuring Vienna’s—art—collection since they were willing to part with it to the former emperor who is how a private citizen and has left the country.