LONDON.- Sotheby’s announced its sale of Jewels to take place on Tuesday, 13 March 2012. Comprised of 249 lots, the sale is estimated to fetch in excess of £1.3 million. The sale will be highlighted by a variety of elegant jewels of great provenance, as well as fine pieces from the collection of Edith, Lady Londonderry and her daughter Lady Mairi Bury. The sale will also feature replicas of some of the Crown Jewels.
Commenting on the sale, Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, Specialist, Sotheby’s Jewellery Department, said: “This sale presents an excellent opportunity for collectors to acquire elegant jewels with great provenance from a variety of historical periods - from the 19th century to the present day. We are delighted to offer this array of jewels of great workmanship in our London sale of fine Jewels”.
Of particular interest in Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year, replicas of the Crown Jewels comprising the Coronation Crown, Orb and Sceptre will be offered at auction. Estimated at £3,000 – 5,000, they comprise a replica of St Edward’s Crown decorated with coloured pastes, with purple velvet and a fur trim; a replica of the Sovereign’s Sceptre, incorporating a simulant stone representing the Cullinan I; and a replica of the Sovereign's Orb, similarly set. The objects are accompanied by three velvet cushions. Replicas of the Crown Jewels were made around the time of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation in order to travel and to be shown to the Commonwealth countries. The present replica of the Crown Jewels is thought to have been exhibited in New Zealand.
Contained in its beautifully worked, original box, a marvelous Gold and Citrine Parure, circa 1830 will be offered for sale (estimated at £20,000 – 30,000). A Parure as complete as the present example is quite a rare find. The Parure comprises a necklace, a pair of bracelets, a pair of pendent earrings, and three hair ornaments and a brooch. These are set with variously shaped faceted citrines between scroll and floral repoussé work motifs.
The sale will feature fine pieces from the Collection of Edith, Lady Londonderry and her daughter Lady Mairi Bury. Lady Mairi Bury (1921-2009) was the youngest daughter of Charles, 7th Marquess of Londonderry and Edith Chaplin (granddaughter of the Duke of Sutherland). Lady Mairi’s mother, Edith Londonderry, was a legendary hostess and organised house parties that included writers, poets, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and political figures such as Ramsay McDonald, the first Labour Prime Minister and her husband's cousin Winston Churchill.
The gardens and grounds at Mount Stewart are renowned throughout the horticultural world and Lady Mairi was determined to preserve the garden that her mother created, knowing the name and location of every plant. She was also an avid philatelist, a pastime she began at the age of eight building up a remarkable collection that was auctioned over three days at Sotheby's in November 2010. This offering of jewels and objects is part of a further selection which will be included in our Noble Jewels sale to be held on 15th May 2012 at Sotheby’s Geneva in the Beau Rivage Hotel.
Fine examples from the collection are four reverse intaglio jewels, from the late 19th century, estimated at £600 – 800. The lot comprises a stock pin, mounted with a reverse intaglio depicting the profile of a horse looking left; a stick pin mounted with a reverse intaglio depicting the profile of a horse looking right; and mounted with a reverse intaglio depicting the profile of a dog and a reverse intaglio pendant depicting two ladybirds.
A Gold and Seed Pearl Demi-Parure, circa 1900, by C. H. Rivaud (illustrated left) is an example of great craft, and carries an estimate of £3,500 – 4,500. This signed and very wearable jewel is comprised of a necklace of fringe design suspending pairs of oak leaves and acorns, accented at intervals with clusters of seed pearls, together with a pair of pendent earrings of similar design.
*Estimates to not include buyer’s premium
