Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

The sale of Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches at Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dublin on May 13 included an impressive retro sapphire and diamond ‘tank’ ring, c.1940, that came for sale from the ‘private collection of a Continental lady’.

In the 1920s-30s, the Scottish-born goldsmith Sybil Dunlop (1889- 1968) presided over a workshop in London’s Kensington Church Street dressed in a kaftan and Russian fur boots.

Bonhams’ London Jewels sale on June 5 features a spectacular Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara that comes by descent from Nancy, Viscountess Astor (1879-1964).

This large diamond, sapphire and emerald peacock feather brooch was the highlight of a recent Fine Jewellery sale held at Fellows (25% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

Among the highlights of a recent jewellery sale held by Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford was this mid-to late-19th century amethyst parure.

A previously unrecorded Elizabethan gold signet ring, a gift from the influential Tudor financier and merchant, Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-79), comes for sale at Noonans on June 17.

This Victorian acrostic gold, hardstone and paste necklace, probably made in Rome c.1890, sold for £3800 (estimate £2000-3000) at Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) Jewellery & Watches sale on May 22.

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

I may be able to add a little to the article about the only known Woodwiss clock (International section, ATG No 2690).

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) was clockmaker to George III and also to The Prince Regent, later George IV.

A well-documented George II astronomical walnut longcase made by James Gandy of Cockermouth was the highlight of a recent sale at Mitchells’ (22% buyer’s premium) in Cumbria.

The Jewellery department at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham is celebrating three new qualifications for its team.

A new addition to the permanent collection of the Reform Club on Pall Mall is a William IV Scottish eight-day painted dial longcase.

Collection included timepieces presented to intrepid French pilots

An impressive 19th century longcase regulator attracted several bidders at a sale held by Metz (28/25% buyer’s premium) in Heidelberg.

Nineteenth century French creation features Fall of Phaeton Greek myth

Star lot of a section of a recent Neumeister’s (30/27/25% buyer’s premium) auction in Munich devoted to the legacy of Alexander Eugen, Duke of Württemberg, who died last year at the age of 91, was literally one of the eyecatchers.

Archibald Knox (1864-1933) is known today as the genius behind the Cymric and Tudric ranges sold by Liberty & Co in the early 20th century.