Jewellery

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.

Jewellery by the Anglo-German firm Murrle Bennett, which thrived for two decades before the First World War, appeals today for the reasons it did in the early 20th century.

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

Dawsons’ (23% buyer’s premium) dedicated Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction in Maidenhead on March 11 included two unusual signed pieces by flavour-of-the-month Andrew Grima (1921-2007).

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

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

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.

Exceptional examples of the glyphic arts – the apotheosis of jewellery collecting during the Grand Tour era – are rising high in the saleroom once more.

Two private collections of the work of John Donald (b.1928) enjoyed a clean sweep at auctions in recent weeks.

The economic crisis of the Great Depression inspired a vogue for many versatile jewels, particularly clip brooches that could be worn on lapels, hat trims and the latest hairstyles.