PRESS RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE London Matthew Weigman matthew.weigman@sothebys.com Rosie O Reilly rosie.oreilly@sothebys.com +44 (0) 207 293 6000 New York Darrell Rocha darrell.rocha@sothebys.com Hong Kong Carmen Ting carmen.ting@sothebys.com Switzerland Catherine Allen catherine.allen@sotheby.com SPRING SPARKLES AT SOTHEBY S SOTHEBY S LONDON FINE JEWELS AUCTION 11 JUNE 2015 A Remarkable Range of Jewellery for Every Collector from Art Nouveau and Art Deco to Cartier and Graff All to be enjoyed and admired over tea by Sapphire and Diamond Brooch Estimate 8,000 12,000 Pair of yellow and diamond brooches, Sabbadini (sold with a pair of earrings). Estimate 4,000 6,000 London, 1 June 2015 On 11 June 2015, Sotheby s London sale of Fine Jewels will offer a wide variety of stunning jewels from the 17th century to the present. Renowned designers have often turned to the beautiful forms of nature for inspiration and this auction features stand-out designs from those such as René Lalique, Mauboussin, Ernst Paltscho and Vacheron Constantin, as well as pieces from great houses such as Cartier and Graff. This season, for the first time ever, visitors to Sotheby s pre-sale exhibition can enjoy a special tea and refreshments among the jewels provided by Sketch.
JEWELS IN FULL BLOOM Floral motifs have always been popular with jewellers for their intricate forms and bold colours. Vacheron Constantin, known for its exceptional watches, is represented here by a yellow diamond brooch and striking pair of earrings each designed as a pair of flowers ave-set with brilliant-cut diamonds of yellow and near colourless tint (Lot 116, right, est. 8,000 12,000/ 11,300 16,900/ US$ 12,000-18,000). Floral brooches are distinguished in the sale with their delicate designs, for instance a pair of gem set and diamond brooches, circa 1960, depicted as a beautiful spray of wild roses and lily of the valley (Lot 91, above right, est. 5,000-7,000 / 7,100-9,900/ US$ 7,500-10,500), and a sapphire and diamond brooch set with pear- and shield-shaped sapphires, circular- and single-cut diamonds (Lot 191, page 1, est. 8,000 12,000/ 11,300 6,900/ US$ 12,000 18,000). ART NOUVEAU & ART DECO PIECES Art Nouveau jewellery is spearheaded by René Lalique designs from the early 20th century, such as a gold and plique-à-jour enamel chain of floral motifs (Lot 247, left, est. 15,000 20,000/ 21,000 28,1000/ US$ 22,500-29,900), and a gold and enamel jewel bracelet. Adorned with scarab beetles and foliate motifs, this enchanting bracelet was given as a gift from René Lalique to his daughter Suzanne Lalique (Lot 248, page 5, est. 22,000 32,000/ 30,900 44,900/ US$ 32,900-47,900). Art Deco jewels from the 1930s are showcased by an exquisite hardstone, enamel and diamond bracelet, attributed to Ernst Paltscho (Lot 283, below, est. 15,000 20,000/ 21,100 28,100/ US$ 22,500 29,900). It was made at the time that Ernst Paltscho became famous for colourful carved hardstone jewels. Cartier has long been at the forefront of some of the most important jewellery design trends of the 20th century and features strongly in the sale. Testament to the geometric design of the jeweller s Art Deco period is a wonderful 1930s citrine and diamond brooch and ring (Lot 103, right, est. 14,000 18,000/ 19,700 25,300/ US$ 21,000 27,000).
ANTIQUE JEWELLERY The beauty and elegance of antique jewels is displayed through a wide range of pieces from the 19th century. Taking centre stage is the cover lot a stunning Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Brooch from the late 19th century, of ribbon bow design with a detachable emerald drop, encircled by a serpent set with rose diamonds and cabochon ruby eyes (Lot 210, right, est. 20,000 30,000/ 28,100 42,100/ US$ 29,000 44,900). An impressive jewel from the late 19th century which also boasts aristocratic provenance is a diamond brooch portrayed as an eagle from The Estate of the late Marquess of Anglesey. Four similarly designed eagles are depicted on the Anglesey Coat of Arms (Lot 40, est. 10,000 15,000/ 14,100 21,100/ US$ 15,000 22,500). Natural pearls have been star performers at auction recently and this sale offers a late 19th century natural pearl and diamond pendant, which comprises of a wonderful natural pearl drop to a rose diamond surmount (Lot 199, right, est. 10,000 15,000/ 14,100 21,100/ US$ 15,000 22,500). DIAMONDS A diamond ring weighing 6.50 carats, of exceptional colour and clarity (E, V52) is a highlight within an impressive selection of beautiful diamonds (Lot 398, right, est. 120,000 180,000/ 169,000 253,000/ US$ 180,000-270,000). Among a group of fancy coloured diamonds is a fancy deep brownish yellow diamond and diamond ring weighing 4.21 carats (Lot 126, below right, Est. 20,000-30,000/ 28,100-42,100/ US$ 29,900-44,900), and a pair of fancy coloured diamond earrings, the brilliant-cut fancy orange brown diamonds weighing 3.12 and 3.20 carats respectively (Lot 111, below left, est. 28,000 38,000/ 39,300 53,500/ US$ 41,900 57,000).
SIGNED JEWELS Modern, signed jewels are well-represented with examples from famous houses such as De Beers and Graff. From Graff, the sale features a pair of diamond ear clips set with brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 3.27 and 3.21 carats (Lot 399, right, est. 50,000 70,000/ 70,500 98,500/ US$ 75,000-105,000). From De Beers there are several jewels including a Diamond parure consisting of a bracelet and a pair of ear clips each designed as flower motifs (Lot 121, earrings shown right, est. 8,000 12,000/ 11,300 19,900/ US$ 12,000 18,000). STUART CRYSTAL AND MOMENTO MORI JEWELS Evocative of Royalist fashion during the tumultuous era of the Stuarts is an impressive private collection of very delicate, late 17th and early 18th-century Stuart Crystal and Momento Mori mourning jewels. Emblazoned with skulls, skeletons and coffins, these jewels were widely worn to remind owners of their mortality (Lots 212, 216, 215 below). They gained in popularity at the same time as the proliferation of Royalist Stuart jewels, which were secretly sported by Royalists concealing portraits of Charles I after the regicide of the King in 1649. With an estimate of 1,000 1,500 ( 1,450 2,150/ US$ 1,500 2,250, below left), lot 212 is a Gold Stuart Crystal mourning slide from the 1690s depicting a skeleton resting on a tomb. Come and watch the auction and enjoy the pop-up Sketch café, which will be serving scrumptious afternoon tea on the 11 June 2015 from 10.30am throughout the sale. The magical menu Sketch has created is sure to delight, with such delicacies as caviar and quail s egg sandwiches. Sketch was conceived in 2002 by Three Michelin Stars, French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mourad Mazouz.
NOTES TO EDITORS SKETCH Sketch is a complex and unique site, a centre, a lieu or destination place, for food, art and music, realised over two expansive floors of a converted 18th century building in Conduit Street, Mayfair, London. Conceived by Three Michelin Stars, French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mourad Mazouz, it has attracted unprecedented media reaction for its myriad food, drink and entertainment styles since it opened in December 2002. Gagnaire s culinary genius has inspired the menus throughout sketch. His eponymous Michelin three-starred Paris restaurant has a distinctive menu style, which Gagnaire had adapted for sketch. Executed by his acolytes, the food is imaginative, bold, ground-breaking and delicious. These two visionaries have come together to create sketch. FOR MORE NEWS FROM SOTHEBY S Visit: Follow: Join: Watch: sothebys.com/en/inside/services/press/news/news.html twitter.com/sothebys facebook.com/sothebys & www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong youtube.com/sothebys Sotheby s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby s presents auctions in nine different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby s Financial Services, the world s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S 2, the gallery arm of Sotheby s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby s Diamonds and Sotheby s Wine. Sotheby s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). *Estimates do not include buyer s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer s premium. Images are available upon request. All catalogues are available online at sothebys.com or through Sotheby s Catalogue ipad App.