- Alfred Ernest Allnatt
Alfred E. Allnatt (known professionally as Major A.E. Allnatt) was an English
businessman andphilanthropist .He took over his father'ssupply business and developed it intoAllnatt London Properties and other well known businesses in England.The Adoration of the Magi
Alfred purchased
Peter Paul Rubens ' 1634 painting "The Adoration of the Magi " for a record ₤275,000 (US$660,000) in 1959 from the estate of theDuke of Westminster . He offered to give the painting as a gift toKing's College, Cambridge in 1961. The painting was subsequently transferred by Deed of Gift to King's College in November 1961. The painting was placed on permanent display in 1968 in the east end of the Chapel at King's College. The painting was estimated to be worth $2,400,000 in 1974, when it was damaged by vandals who scratched "IRA" in two foot high letters across the front.Allnatt Diamond
Alfred Allnatt also owned the
Allnatt Diamond , which he purchased in the 1950s. At 101.29 carats (20.258 g), the Allnatt is the fourth-highest-pricedyellow diamond ever sold at auction. The Allnatt Diamond is so strongly yellow that theGIA Gem Laboratory deemed it aFancy Vivid yellow after examination in 2000. There are fewer than 12 diamonds known to exist in the world that weigh over 100 carats (20 g) with such strong colour. The Allnatt diamond was recut to intensify its colour after being sold at auction in 1996. The original Allnatt Diamond weighed 102.07 carats (20.414 g) and was graded a Fancy Intense yellow by the GIA Gem Laboratory but after recutting to its present 101.29 carats (20.258 g), it was classified as Fancy Vivid yellow.Ujiji
Allnatt also enjoyed
horse racing . A horse named "Ujiji" owned by Allnatt finished third in the English Derby in June 1942 and first in theGold Cup in 1943 atNewmarket, England .Death
Allnatt died at his residence
Doughty House in Richmond Hill,Surrey and his ashes were buried in the churchyard atTurville ,Buckinghamshire .Alfred Allnatt of
England and Melvin Leroy Merritt ofPortland, Oregon researched and published genealogy book of Allnatt history "The Families of Allnutt & Allnatt" in 1962 in England.
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