Jewellery

In the art and antiques market, the jewellery category spans the millennia from ancient artefacts fit for Cleopatra herself to modern branded wares by famous French and American ateliers. This may include objects of significant intrinsic worth – valued for the gemstones and precious metals from which they were made – but also objects fashioned from more humble materials that are appreciated simply for the excellence of their design.


NAJ Summit

Jewellery event speakers revealed

25 May 2022

The National Association of Jewellers’ Institute of Registered Valuers (IRV) has announced the keynote speakers for its upcoming conference this summer.

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Nelson mourning ring by ‘special request’

16 May 2022

The Marine Sale at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) included a very rare gold and enamel ring marking the death of Admiral Lord Nelson in 1805.

Silver spoons

Farnham antiques centre targeted by thieves

12 May 2022

A Farnham antiques centre is hoping to track down items stolen after a break in last week.

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Indian pieces including jewellery owned by the mother of the Maharajah Duleep Singh attract bids at Bonhams

25 April 2022

The Islamic and Indian Art sale at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) on March 29 was topped by a diamond and emerald set gold pendant from the collection of Maharani Jindan Kaur (1817-63).

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Tooth be told on toadstones

18 April 2022

Toadstones are understood to be the button-like palatal teeth of lepidotes, an extinct genus of ray finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

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Pick of the week: Poniatowski fakes gained real appeal

18 April 2022

The story of the Poniatowski gems provided one of the great art scandals of its day.

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The web shop window: Victorian 'canine' cufflinks

18 April 2022

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

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Rothschild name tempts bidders

04 April 2022

Provenance adds cachet to a varied selection offered in regional sale after London first dibs

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Egyptian revival continues in Maidenhead

07 March 2022

With the discovery of the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923, an Egyptian revival swept through the decorative arts. Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels were among the first to design jewels that mixed Egyptian motifs with the geometry and bold colours of the Art Deco era. But other French, British and US ateliers soon followed.

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De Temple revival on show at Edinburgh sale

07 March 2022

The Select Jewellery & Watches sale at Lyon & Turnbull (25/20% buyer’s premium) on March 30 includes a number of pieces by the coterie of artist-craftsmen who led a revival of British jewellery making in the 1960s-70s. Like so much of post-war decorative arts, they have roared back into fashion.

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98 ways to restore Poniatowski’s reputation

07 March 2022

The jewellery department at Woolley & Wallis has built up something of a reputation for selling cameos and intaglios.

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A gift from the Queen Mother shines at Essex auction

07 March 2022

A sale of royal memorabilia at Colchester saleroom Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) on February 15 included items from the estate of Miss Beryl Poignand (1887-1965), governess and confidante to HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

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Edward Burch at the cutting edge

07 March 2022

A white agate intaglio carrying the name of a giant of Georgian gem engraving surfaced at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, on February 22-24.

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Gems from Dorrie Nossiter emerge at Roseberys

07 March 2022

The Art by Four Women exhibition held at the Walker Gallery, London, in 1935 was something of a break-through event for Birmingham-trained goldsmith Dorrie Nossiter (1893-1977).

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Nuggets of truth from the Kildonan Gold Rush

07 March 2022

A locket that tells the story of the brief, and little known, Scottish gold rush of 1869 surfaces in Gloucestershire

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A Civilotti jewel to rival Castellani

07 March 2022

The Etruscan, Renaissance and Byzantine revival jewels made by the Civilotti family (Carlo, Antonio and Giuseppe) in Rome are less numerous and less well known than those of the Castellani dynasty.

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Best of 'cut and paste' jewellery at Catherine Southon

07 March 2022

Aided by the skills of the Alsatian jeweller Georges-Frédéric Strass (1701-77), the boundaries of what could be achieved with paste jewellery were pushed back in the 18th century.

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A Byzantine ring from Guilhou’s huge collection on offer in West Sussex

07 March 2022

Marriage or betrothal rings of the Byzantine period depict the bride and groom with Christ who performs the marriage rite.

Ian Harris

Dealer and Antiques Roadshow veteran Ian Harris calls it a day at ‘84 and a half’

28 February 2022

Dealer and BBC Antiques Roadshow veteran Ian Harris is auctioning the majority of his stock as the company N Bloom & Son closes after more than a century.

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‘Bulgari’ rescued from dressing-up box fate

07 February 2022

Bidders backing their judgment sent two lots to 20-times estimates at Mallams’ (25% buyer’s premium) jewellery and silver sale

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