Sotheby’s Spring Sale of Magnificent Jewels Distinguished by Superb Color and Provenance Sale is Highlighted by The Collection of Patricia Kluge Single-Owner Auction of Always In Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels chronicles two centuries of jewelry design
On 20 April 2010 Sotheby’s will offer three sessions of jewelry comprising a single-owner sale Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels and Magnificent Jewels. The day begins with a comprehensive survey of period and signed jewels dating from the 19th century to modern day, and representative of the main design themes of the last two centuries. Following, the Magnificent Jewels sale features important diamond and colored stone jewels, many from distinguished private collections, including those of Patricia Kluge, Ann Getty and the estate of Nancy M. Daly, as well as jewels formerly in the collections of Marlene Dietrich and Isabella Stewart Gardner.
Sotheby’s is privileged to present magnificent jewels from the collection of Patricia Kluge as a major highlight of the April sale. As in any great jewelry collection, at the core are her white diamonds including the impressivePair of Platinum and Diamond Pendant-Earclips, set with almost 64 carats of pear-shaped diamonds (est. $600/800,000). Fancy intense yellow diamonds along with suites of sapphires and of rubies are also featured in the glamorous Kluge jewels. A Sapphire and Diamond Panthère Wristwatch, Cartier, French, circa 1985, (est. $100/150,000) speaks to Mrs. Kluge’s sophisticated appreciation of workmanship and her refined taste. These jewels preview a unique joint sale offering of Albemarle House, the residence of Patricia Kluge, listed and offered currently by Sotheby’s International Realty. The interior contents will be offered in a Sotheby’s house sale to take place on the grounds of the Charlottesville, Virginia estate on 8 and 9 June. An additional selection of Patricia Kluge’s decorative jewels will be offered in June at Albemarle House. The sale offers superb examples of the natural colors found in nature, from warm yellow and red, to cool green and blue. A Magnificent Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond Necklace (est. $2/3 million), property from a private collection, features 42 GIA-certified fancy vivid yellow diamonds weighing a total of 100.17 carats set in a graduated riviere style necklace. This spectacular jewel is believed to be the first necklace set entirely with fancy vivid yellow diamonds ever to appear at auction.
A row of fourteen beautifully matched Colombian emeralds, weighing approximately 39.60 carats, is skillfully set in the art deco design Emerald and Diamond Bracelet, Tiffany & Co., circa 1925, also from a private collection, and once in the collection of Annie-Laurie Aitken (est. $350/550,000). A collection of seven un-mounted Kashmir sapphires from a private collector are well matched and may inspire the creation of another magnificent jewel. Offered as three pairs of cushion-shaped stones and one square-emerald cut stone, the Collection of Kashmir Sapphires weigh from 4.29 to 8.73 carats (total est. $1.1/1.5 million).
The Ruby and Diamond Ring, set with a cushion-shaped Burmese ruby of 8.66 carats, is one of the finest ‘pigeon blood red’ rubies to be offered on the market (est. $1/1.5 million). This historical stone is the property of the Gardner Family and was formerly in the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner – the philanthropist and visionary patron of the arts whose remarkable art collection is housed in the Boston museum that bears her name. Isabella Stewart Gardner loved jewelry and was depicted by painters John Singer Sargent and Anders Zorn theatrically wearing her rubies on ropes of pearls. According to a letter found in the Gardner Family archives, the ruby on offer was acquired from a rajah who sent the stone to Mrs. Gardner in Paris as she was known to be seeking a ruby in memory of her brother Charles Stewart. A majority of white diamonds in the sale are the highly sought wearable sizes weighing ten carats and under. A Platinum and Diamond Ring, the property of a distinguished collector, is set with a round diamond weighing 9.25 carats of D color, internally flawless clarity and type IIa material (est. $1/1.5million). The stone has also been graded triple-X for its excellent cut, polish and symmetry. Highlighting the fancy colored diamonds on offer is a rare Fancy Intense Pinkish Orange Diamond Ring, set with a 7.67 carat, type IIa, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone that is the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond of this pinkish orange color graded by the GIA to date (est. $2.5/3.5 million).
A jewel with glamorous Hollywood provenance is The Marlene Rose, a Platinum and Diamond Brooch, circa 1930, formerly in the collection of Marlene Dietrich (est. $30/50,000). Said to be her favorite brooch and her signature piece of jewelry, Dietrich, a fashion icon of the 20th century, wore the rose blossom brooch in The Blue Angel and Shanghai Express. It was a gift from director Josef von Sternberg who is credited with launching her international film career.
A collection from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly spans the 20th century featuring important diamond jewels as well as less formal gold contemporary designs in keeping with her life in southern California. Nancy M. Daly, a long-time philanthropist and children’s activist, had close ties to both the entertainment industry and Los Angeles politics, and she used her influence to tirelessly advocate for children in need. The exquisite Pair of Platinum and Diamond Pendant-Earclips, Cartier set with over 30 carats of diamonds, (est. $75/100,000) speak to her classic taste and the elegant lifestyle she led while married to entertainment executive Robert A. Daly and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan. Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels
The April New York sale will commence with Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels, a single-owner collection of signed and decorative jewels created over the last two centuries. Featuring well-collected makers including Cartier, Daniel Brush, Marcus & Co., Giuliano, Boivin, T.B. Starr and Giorgio Facchini, the sale is a chronology in style and illustrates how jewelry design evolved under the influence of fashion, society and world history. From 19th century micro-mosaic and revival styles, to delicate Belle Époque and geometric Art Deco pieces, through the opulent jewels of the 1940’s and 1950’s, and right up to modern day creations, collectors will have an exceptional opportunity to chose from over 200 pieces that remain as wearable today as they were when first created. Estimates for this collection start at $5,000. Highlights from both jewelry sales will be on public exhibition at Sotheby’s Los Angeles office on Friday 26 March 2010 and in Hong Kong 3-6 April 2010. The presale exhibitions in New York will be held Friday 16 April through Tuesday 20 April 2010.
