L ondon’s December Fine Jewels sale presents a collection of important jewels from several prestigious collections with aristocratic and historic provenance, including a collection of important jewels dating from the late 19th century through to the Belle Epoque belonging to Flora Sassoon.
Other notable jewels include a necklace that was once worn by Emma Lady Hamilton (1765-1815), mistress of Lord Nelson and muse to Regency portrait artist George Romney, and an amethyst necklace presented to Elisabeth von Löwenstern, nee Countess Mannteufel (1788-1855), by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Jewels from world famous jewellery houses and workshops including Cartier, Henri Picq, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Bulgari, Suzanne Belperron and German artist jeweller Gunter Krauss will be for sale.
A private collection of jewels by Italian modern master Mirko Basaldella (1910-1969), created for his wife Serena Cagli, whose most notable commission were the gates of the Mausoleum of the Fosse Ardeatine in Rome.
Sotheby’s London is delighted to offer a selection of jewels from the Sassoon family. This exquisite collection includes natural pearls, Burmese rubies and jewels crafted by some of the finest jewellers of the 20th Century. Highlights include a diamond and ruby set jewel by Henri Picq, workmaster for Cartier, an impressive diamond jabot pin and a diamond and natural pearl brooch, both by Boucheron, and a beautiful cushion shaped diamond ring.
The principle stones are all set in foiled cut-down gold collets and are likely to have been re-used from several earlier 18th century rivieres, mounted into more fashionable filigree settings, with the ever popular Pansy motifs using smaller gem stones as was the practice during this period.
Lady Hamilton is known to have owned and worn jewels like this necklace on her return to London in 1800, with the Pansy representing her love for Nelson and her platonic love for Sir William.
The sale features a private collection of jewels by Italian modern artists Mirko Basaldella (1910-1969), who designed and created these unique pieces for his wife Serena Cagli. Badasella, a prolific painter and sculptor, is mostly known for the gates of the Mausoleum of the Fosse Ardeatine in Rome.
De Beers and Sotheby’s have joined forces to present five jewels which will be sold to benefit two charitable organisations: Stepping Stones International in Botswana and the NAACP Legal Defence Fund in the US. For the occasion, De Beers Group has entrusted five independent female designers with the creation of unique natural diamond pendants, each inspired by a trip that the five designers - Jade Trau, Jennie Kwon, Julez Bryant, Sara Weinstock and Zoë Chicco – took to Botswana last year.
Each design celebrates the people, wildlife and beautiful landscapes of Botswana, as well as a shared commitment to help shape a better world, with four of the jewels incorporating a rough diamond sourced directly from the country. The ReSet Collective initiative is the first in a series of collaborations under De Beers Group’s new ReSet platform, which aims to offer a fresh perspective on responsible and sustainable sourcing and the positive impacts that De Beers’ natural diamonds create for the people and places where they are discovered.
For more information, visit De Beers's Reset Collective Campaign Page or @debeersgroup on Instagram to see all the pieces and for exclusive content on each designer’s creative journey, from her experience in Botswana to the creation of her unique pendant.
