Family's $200,000 Attic Jewelry Collection Heads to Auction
October 19, 26
(IDEX Online) - More than 200 antique and vintage jewels that were stored in a family's attic for decades are to be sold without reserve at auction in the UK, with a presale estimate of £150,000 ($200,000).
The collection, spanning more than 200 years of jewelry design, will be offered by Elmwood's, in Notting Hill, west London, on October 21.
"Here we have a remarkable collection that has effectively been hiding in plain sight for decades, bringing together generations of family history with some truly beautiful examples of jewelry design," said Joe Kendrick, head of sale at Elmwood's auctioneers.
Many of the pieces were acquired by the current owner's grandmother, who collected jewelry throughout her life. Other items were inherited or added by family members before the collection was put away for safekeeping several decades ago.
Much of the collection dates from the early 20th century, including Art Deco jewels from the 1920s and 1930s.
Highlights include a Cartier diamond bow brooch dating to about 1905, estimated at £1,000 to £1,500 ($1,330 to $2,000), and an Edwardian diamond brooch designed to be worn on the front of a gown, estimated at £2,000 to £3,000 ($2,700 to $4,000).
An Egyptian Revival diamond double-clip brooch in platinum, designed as two stylized lotus flowers and set with an estimated 12.5 to 13.5 carats of diamonds, carries an estimate of £1,000 to £1,500 ($1,330 to $2,000).
An Art Deco French diamond strap bracelet dating to around 1930, set in platinum and 18-carat white gold with old European, old and single-cut diamonds totaling an estimated 16 to 18 carats, is also included in the no-reserve sale.
The sale also includes 17 lots of Victorian animal brooches, featuring creatures including a bull, badger, donkey, partridge, seagull, foxes and greyhounds. A diamond and ruby bull brooch, set with approximately 2.5 to 2.8 carats of diamonds and a ruby eye, is estimated at £200 to £300 ($265 to $400).
The auction reflects changing styles and craftsmanship from the 19th century through to the 21st, with pieces ranging from elaborate Edwardian designs to the geometric forms of the Art Deco period.
Pic, courtesy Elmwood's, shows an Art Deco French diamond strap bracelet dating to around 1930, set in platinum and 18-carat white gold with diamonds totaling an estimated 16 to 18 carats. It is offered without reserve with an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000 ($4,000 to $6,650).