Our last major fine jewellery and luxury auction for 2012 generated some very interesting results. The collection offered presented pieces from all the famous jewellery houses, a very interesting collection of precious objects from a single-owner collection in NSW and high-value leather goods from international fashion houses. Period jewellery with a contemporary flavour again sold well with the highest price going to an Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet, lot 158, selling for $19,980 (IBP). Fine craftsmanship was also keenly sought when lot 427, a superbly constructed gold trinket box, sold for more than double its estimate for $9125 (IBP). The box emanated from the 100 lot single-owner collection and was one of many period Georgian and Victorian boxes in both gold and silver to go under the hammer – it was rare to see so many period boxes in one auction and they were all keenly contested. From the more contemporary offering, lot 299, a Chanel J12 diamond wristwatch (rarely seen at auction) also more than doubled its estimate to finally sell for $8845 (IBP). And the thirst for signature pieces continued when two line bracelets by Cartier, lots 168 and 209, each sold for $6100 (IBP). Items of jewellery from the Bulgari and Kutchinsky jewellery houses also sold well. The most interesting theme of the auction was undoubtedly the collection of early boxes and it is rare to be able to analyse the current price performance of a collecting category in so much detail from one auction so here we take this opportunity to present sale highlights from this collecting category:
1. Lot 427
AN OVAL GOLD TRINKET BOX
Decorated with chased and appled decoration, total weight 136 gms, 9 x 4cm.
Estimate $ 3,500-4,000
Sold for $ 9,125 (IBP)
2. Lot 449
A GOLD GEORGIAN SNUFF BOX
CIRCA 1804
The rectangular box with engine turned decoration, hallmarked 18ct gold, London 1804, maker I.N., total weight 98.0gms, 7 x 4cm.
Estimate $ 2,600-2,800
Sold for $ 5,612 (IBP)
3. Lot 404
A GEORGIAN GOLD SNUFF BOX
The rectangular box with engine turned and chased decoration, with continental hallmarks, Iin 18ct gold, total weight 74.5gms, 8 x 6cm
Estimate $ 2,000-2,500
Sold for $ 4,880 (IBP)
4.Lot 450
A GEORGIAN GOLD SNUFF BOX
CIRCA 1821
The rectangular box with engine turned decoration, hallmarked 18ct gold, London 1821-22, maker A.J.S., total weight 67.2gms, 7 x 4cm
Estimate $ 1,800-2,000
Sold for $ 4,636 (IBP)
5. Lot 433
A GEORGIAN GOLD SNUFF BOX
CIRCA 1803
With engine turned detail, hallmarked 18ct gold, London 1803-4, Maker A.J.S, 7 x 4.5cm.
Estimate $ 2,500-3,000
Sold for $ 4, 636 (IBP)