PIONEERING CARTIER PIECES ARE HIGHLIGHT OF BONHAMS DECEMBER JEWELLERY SALE
A GIFT OF PEARLS FROM THE FIRST SAUDI KING ARE ALSO OFFERED
Two important Cartier pieces are among the top lots of the Bonhams Art of Jewels: Fine Jewellery and Iconic Gems sale on December 9th at New Bond Street.
Shown above, an impressive Art-Deco diamond necklace by Cartier, 1936 demonstrates the pioneering nature of the French jewellery house during a time when they were attempting to push the boundaries of design. Cartier were among the first to use the rare metal platinum, which was to change the future of jewellery design. The signed necklace offered by Bonhams is estimated at £100,000 – 150,000 and is made up of numerous cuts of diamonds: old brilliant, brilliant, single, square and baguette cut diamonds that sit on pierced geometric plaques, graduating in size from the centre.
A very rare diamond and natural pearl bow brooch by Cartier, circa 1960 is a further highlight of the sale, estimated at £150,000 – 200,000. The looped ribbons are set throughout with brilliant and baguette cut diamonds that suspend two large natural saltwater pearls, which are exceptional specimens. These two examples clearly show why Cartier jewellery was described as "Jeweller to Kings, King to Jewellers."
Other signed pieces included in the sale are a ruby and diamond bangle by Van Cleef & Arpels circa 1970, estimated at £10,000 – 15,000 and a diamond bangle from the “Phoenix Wonderland” collection by the renowned British jeweller Boodles, estimated at £15,000 – 20,000. The cuff is designed as a stylised phoenix rising up the forearm when worn, set with brilliant-cut diamonds and lager pear-shaped diamond highlights.
Further highlights of the sale include a selection of impressive natural pearls. A pearl necklace with a ruby and diamond clasp, circa 1930 is estimated to sell for £10,000 – 15,000. They were given as a present to a relative of the current owner by the first Monarch of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King (Malik) of Saudi Arabia, commonly referred to as “Ibn Saud”. A large bouton pearl and diamond ring is estimated to sell for £15,000 – 20,000.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 27 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com
