Another diamond; plus a more interesting auction

27 04 2013

Another big diamond has sold for lots of monies.
News says: “5.30 carat “fancy” diamond, set in a Trombino ring, for £6,201,250“.

news media; click on image for original source

news media; click on image for original source

The image on the auction house website shows a slightly lighter colour stone, and in its original ring setting.

auction media; click on image for original source

auction media; click on image for original source

I browsed through the whole auction result list, but my eyes quickly glazed over … big stones, little creativity or interest.

However, I did find that Bonham’s has a more interesting auction coming up: it’s listed as Antiquities, and there’s jewellery to be had! I’m not sure if I’m genuinely serious enough to actually do any purchasing (not only because it’s pretty difficult to buy sight-unseen), but these have definitely piqued my interest:

  • (lot 118) Four Egyptian repoussé gold sheet mummy amulets; Late Period – Ptolemaic, circa 664-32 B.C.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

  • (lot 119) A group of Egyptian glass and glazed composition amulets and beads; New Kingdom – Late Period, circa 1550-30 B.C.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

  • (lot 141) A collection of Ancient glass beads; Phoenician – Islamic Period
  • (lot 169) Three Greek sheet gold diadems; Hellenistic, circa 2nd Century B.C.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

  • (lot 224) A Roman green jasper intaglio ring; Circa 1st-2nd Century A.D.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

  • (lot 253) A pair of Roman gold earrings; Circa 1st-3rd Century A.D.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

  • (lot 262) A group of Roman gold jewellery; Circa 2nd-3rd Century A.D.

    click on image for original source

    click on image for original source

I could continue … but I shall stop and you can see more yourself.





Jewellery at auction

21 04 2013

Just a quick little post … I was looking through the Christie’s jewellery results recently and spotted this one.

screen shot of Christie's website; click on image for original source

screen shot of Christie’s website; click on image for original source

Woah – there is a huge difference between the estimate and realised price – someone, well at least two people, really wanted this. Unless of course this is a typo and the result was US$6250 instead of US$62,500…

 





Makers Mark auction today

13 09 2012

The auction of Makers Mark jewellery is this morning.

I sent an email to the NGV (as well as sending the same via their facebook page too) …. begging them to consider purchasing some amazing jewellery at this auction. Sadly, I received no response.

I recognise that the staff at the gallery are very busy people (when I’m my more usual fabulous self, I’m a professional too and understand how busy work-life is); though it’s not exactly encouraging to supporters of the gallery that I’m offered no response at all. What did I expect you may ask? Not a whole lot in all seriousness, perhaps just a two-liner saying thanks for the information and they’re looking into it. It’s not a big deal, though I do hope they’ll be sending a representative today…

Anyhoo, if you’re going today I wish you all the luck in the whole wide world in bidding for your coveted piece! I’d love to hear about it …

—-

Update (13th September): the results of the auction are here





Update: Makers Mark auction

10 08 2012

A quickie … check out the updates and comments on my previous post “Jewellery at auction: Makers Mark“.

While I hope that all pieces are attributed correctly, I have been made aware of two examples of where this hasn’t been the case.

So if you’re planning on picking up a piece or two, do what you can to confirm the maker – though I think this may not be easy, considering some of the pieces are from the 80s and that may mean that the artists’ style may well have been different then to now….





Jewellery at auction: Makers Mark

3 08 2012

Just a quick post – I’ve only just discovered that Leonard Joel auction house (in Melbourne) will be holding an auction [link] of what seems to be remaining stock from the now-defunct Maker’s Mark jewellery gallery.

It’s on 13th September … there are some interesting pieces, particularly some older 80s pieces that seem to have been in old exhibitions at the gallery.

Those artists named against pieces (many are unknown):

  • Jan and Tim Aerundell , Valerie Akid , Diana Anderson , Dianne Appleby
  • Helen Atkin-Kuhn , Merlyine Bailey , Godwin Baum , Gary Bradley
  • Annie Brownsworth , Susan Cohn , Carolyn Delzoppo , Arlene Fisch
  • Hendrik Forster , Peter Gertler , Villiama Grakalic , Ragnar Hanson
  • Kevin James , Greg John , Rosalie Lou , Carlier Magikawa
  • Sally Marsland , Siri Omberg , Liz Olah , Hugo Oliverio
  • Russell Petherbridge , Atika Rae , Wendy Ramshaw , Dan Scurry
  • Imogen Smith , Gillian Snadden , Catherine Truman , Peter Tully
  • Adam Wyspianski

Maybe these artists may like to know their older pieces are for sale, perhaps they can reclaim them?

Or, maybe the NGV should get to the auction and add to their contemporary jewellery collection?

[disclaimer: I am not at all associated with the auction house and this is not a requested advert]

—–

Update: just after posting the above, I decided to send a message to the NGV (via email and facebook; I wasn’t sure if I still had the correct email address, so covered both bases). They of course may already be all over this, but I felt it was too important an opportunity to leave to chance.

I usually consider emails private conversations – but in this case, as it’s my text and message, I’ve decided to share it here … as a kind of ‘open letter’ to the NGV, begging them to take this opportunity to add to their contemporary jewellery collection.

You may already know this, but I couldn’t leave it unsaid in case you didn’t.

Leonard Joel auction house (in Melbourne) is, on 13th September, auctioning pieces from the now defunct Makers Mark jewellery gallery.

This strikes me as an exceptional opportunity for the NGV to add to their collection of contemporary jewellery, especially the Australia-made section.

There are some early pieces here from some well-established names in the Australian jewellery community.
The estimates seem to be astonishing considering the makers, and also when compared to gallery prices.
Further though, many of the pieces here seem to be from the 1980s and even 70s – when on earth will these ever resurface on the market?!
The success of the recent ‘Unexpected Pleasures’ exhibition surely indicates the interest in this art form!

I am barely falling short of begging the NGV to consider whether any pieces on offer for sale fit into the contemporary jewellery story the NGV wants to tell the jewellery community and the wider gallery audience.

No, it’s not my best work … but it’ll do the job I think!

Being realistic though, the department probably already have a set budget and may not be able to do anything … but no harm in trying.

—–

Update (7th August): I’ve just had another look at the auction catalogue and the item previously attributed to Sally Marsland has been altered and is no longer named as hers (see comments for more information). And maybe my memory is rubbish, but it may be that some of the estimates are a little higher than they were last time I looked … maybe??

—–

Update (10th August): I’ve just had a comment from Helen Aitken-Kuhn who has advised the piece attributed to her isn’t hers after all. The incorrect attributions is certainly a concern.

This may sound odd – if you have any means of contacting any of the artists named in this auction could you please do so, so the artists have a chance to confirm ‘their piece’?

—–





Jewellery at auction

25 05 2012

Sadly I have not been my usual awesome self and wasn’t able to attend the NMIT or Box Hill fundraising jewellery auctions. Terribly disappointed – though of course I trust the nights were huge successes!

In other auction news, there are some truly ‘special’ pieces in an upcoming Leonard Joel auction. Now usually there is a substantial offering of bling-tasia – huge or expensive stones plonked in a setting; and this set is no exception. However there are a number of pieces that are surprising in their own special way.

  • diamond dress ring

    auction media; click on image for original source

  • a coral cocktail ring – oh lordy!

    auction media; click on image for original source

  • a citrine cocktail ring

    auction media; click on image for original source

  • oh there are more … but enough for now

There’s also a 1/3rd carat pink Argyle loose diamond [link] … with an estimate of a mere $48000 – $52000 (yes, for a third of a carat).





Jewellery fundraising auctions reminder

3 05 2012

Okay now. It wouldn’t do for anyone to forget that there are TWO, yes TWO, jewellery auctions in the coming weeks.

Next Wednesday: 9th May
NMIT Jewellery fundraising Auction [facebook page]; “The Advanced Diploma students of 2012 present to you an exciting opportunity to purchase exquisite handmade pieces of jewellery at exceptional prices. Crack open your piggy bank, get your bidding arm ready and help them raise funds for their Graduate Exhibition.

facebook profile picture

The following Wednesday: 16th May
Box Hill Institute silent jewellery auction

auction media

Jewellery ahoy!!