Jewellery

Sotheby’s sold the collection of Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma at the end of last month.

A spectacular parure of sapphires and diamonds, from the collection of Napoleon’s adoptive daughter, Stephanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden (1789-1860), is for sale at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on May 12.

The Islamic and Indian Art sale at Bonhams (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) in London on March 30 included this diamond and emerald set forehead pendant (chand-tikka) from the collection of Maharani Jindan Kaur (1817-63).

The popularity of the tiara, that reached its peak in the decades before the onset of the First World War when diamonds from South Africa were in plentiful supply, has fluctuated across the 20th century in line with prosperity and fashion.

How a firm of importers brought Jugendstil jewellery to Britain – with the help of a little German efficiency

Better late than never, Woolley & Wallis will get to hold its January jewellery sale this month – on April 29.

For the famous English socialite Anne Parsons, Countess of Rosse (1902-92), appearances certainly mattered – and she was known to use eye-catching jewels to accentuate her own beauty.

Kingham & Orme’s (23% buyer’s premium) first-ever specialist auction of Jewellery & Watches took place on February 19 with just over 200 lots.

A recent Fine Jewellery sale at Fellows (23% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham included an unusual Victorian necklace.

Metal detectorist’s discovery linked to flamboyant earl who was a favourite of Elizabeth I

This copper alloy and champleve enamel brooch would once have graced the chariot of an Iron Age chieftain.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

A 350-lot sale of items from the collection of Lady Mountbatten including jewellery, furniture, paintings, sculptures, books, silver and ceramics will be offered at Sotheby’s on March 24.

Cortrie in Hamburg is holding an auction of watches and vintage timepieces on February 13.

A selection of period and vintage jewellery lots for sale in January, February and March.

Covid-19 has played havoc with the jewellery fairs and auction calendar but it has done little to dull the appetite for quality antique and vintage pieces.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

A notable source of ancient coins and historical jewellery appearing on the market in 2020 has been the soil. It is the success of the Portable Antiquities Scheme that finders of ‘treasure’ are now encouraged to declare discoveries and share the proceeds of sales with the landowner.

The highlight of a sale of jewellery and silver at Peschetau Badin (27% buyer’s premium) on December 1- 2 in Paris was this gold ‘four dragonflies’ brooch by René Lalique.