The Art Newspaper

LONDON. Judith Bollinger, a director of Nordic investment bank ABG Sundal Collier, who with her husband, William, has donated £7m to the V&A for its new jewellery gallery opening on 24 May, is the owner of a £300,000 Cartier bandeau (head ornament) which was subject to a UK export licence deferral in 2004. The item is on a ten-year loan to the V&A and will go on display in the new gallery. Made by Cartier in 1922, the bandeau was originally owned by Lady Mountbatten. In 2004 it was purchased by a Swiss-based buyer, but when an export licence was deferred, Mrs Bollinger was the anonymous UK individual who matched the price. Under the Ridley Rule, private buyers have to offer public access. The V&A’s old jewellery gallery closed four years ago, and the new display is designed by architect Eva Jiricna, for 3,500 jewels. Mrs Bollinger and her husband, co-founder of Geertgen Capital, are reported to have recently given up residing in London because of restrictive measures on “non-domiciled” taxpayers introduced last month. They are believed to have moved to Switzerland. M.B.

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