Results of Sotheby's London auction including Replica Crown Jewels
Sotheby's London sold replicas of the Crown
Jewels in their March 13th Jewels Sale, as well as fine pieces from
the collection of Edith, Lady Londonderry and Lady Mairi Bury, her
daughter.
Timed perfectly to coincide with the first steps of Her
Majesty's Diamond Jubilee Tour, the royal reproductions
include the Coronation Crown, Orb and Sceptre (estimated at £3,000
to £5,000); the imposingly iconic St Edward's Crown is adorned with
coloured pastes and the unmistakable purple and fur trim, with all
pieces complete with the trademark velvet cushions. The replicas
themselves were made at the time of the Queen's coronation so that
they could travel the world and be displayed in Commonwealth
countries for subjects to admire.
Yet this sale wasn't just about the royal jewels, a wide variety
of elegant pieces were sold such as a nineteenth century Gold and
Citrine Parure in it's original hand-worked box, estimated at
£20,000 - £30,000; it is made up of a brooch, a pair of bracelets,
pendant earrings, and three hair adornments, all set with differing
citrines amongst delightful floral and scroll repoussé work motifs.
Another standout lot is the collection of four reverse intaglio
jewels estimated at £600 - £800, featuring a stock pin mounted with
a reverse intaglio featuring a horse's profile looking left,
another stick pin with the profile looking right, as well as two
others with displaying a dog and two ladybirds respectively. There
is another recommended lot in the form of a Gold and Seed Pearl
Demi-Parure from the beginning of last century, which is estimated
at £3,500 - £4,500. Originally by C. H. Rivaud, it is a signed
jewel featuring a fringe design necklace with suspending pairs of
oak leaves and acorns, brought out in style by intermittent
clusters of seed pairs, as well as a delicious pair of pendant
earrings similarly adorned.
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". The auction takes place at Sotheby's
London, and is comprised of 249 lots, estimated to fetch in
excess of £1.3 million.
Two Andrew Grima pieces sold at well above their pre-sale
estimates as did important pieces from designers such as Rivaud
whose work is becoming increasingly sought after.