Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver Sale: Results (1)

A fine Edward VII silver copy of the Warwick Vase, a Roman treasure discovered during the Grand Tour, was sold for £11,000 (plus buyer’s premium) in the Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 11^th November. The original Warwick Vase, now in the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, was discovered at Hadrian’s Villa in Rome in the late 18^th century by Gavin Hamilton, a Scottish art dealer in the city, before ending up in the hands of George Greville, 2^nd Earl of Warwick. A celebrated engraving of the vase by Giovanni Battista Piranesi helped disseminate the design of the vase, adding to its fame, and it became a popular inspiration for silversmiths. The silver copy was made in London in 1901 by Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. Ltd. and sold for four times the low estimate and with strong competition from bidders both on the telephones and in the room.

The Silver and Objects of Vertu section of the sale saw strong selling rates, with 90% of the lots sold, with almost a third selling at or above their high pre-sale estimate. Notable results were achieved for a George III Silver Soup-Tureen and Cover, by Frederick Kandler, London, 1761 (sold for £2,500), a 1877 Chinese Export Silver Goblet with the artisan workshop mark of Hui, Canton and retailed by Sun Shing, Canton and Hong Kong (sold for £1,500), a Russian Silver Gilt and Enamel Kovsh made 1908-1926 by the 20^th Artel, Moscow (sold for £650), and a Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box by John Hogg, Perth circa 1800 (sold for £380).

A good selection of silver animals in the sale sold well throughout, with notable results seen for an Elizabeth II Novelty Silver Condiment Set by Richard Comyns in the form of rabbits, a burrow and a carrot (sold for £1,000), An Elizabeth II Silver Stirrup Cup by Asprey made in 1959 in the guise of a fox’s mask (sold for £800), an Elizabeth II Silver Stirrup Cup by Richard Comyns modelled as an otter’s head (sold for £700), and a Zimbabwean Silver Model of a Buffalo Bull by Patrick Mavros (sold for £850).

A rare model Cartier 18 Carat Gold Tank Normale wristwatch lead a good offering of vintage and luxury watches in the sale, selling for £22,000 against an estimate of £4,000-6,000. Made in 1976, the watch was in nice clean, original condition and was sought after by two keen bidders on the day. Strong results were also seen for a 1985 18 Carat Yellow and White Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (sold for £13,000), a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (sold for £12,000), and a 1977 Rolex Explorer II (sold for £10,000). Also selling well above estimate were a 1977 Rolex Day/Date (sold for £9,500), a rare 1948 IWC RAF issue Pilot’s Watch Mark XI (sold for £3,500), and a rare 1932 9 Carat Gold Rolex ‘Prince Imperial’ Pocket Watch retailed by Asprey (sold for £2,800).

The jewellery on offer in the sale achieved a total hammer price totalling just under £300,000, with fine quality, period and interesting gemstones achieving strong prices with competitive bidding. Notable results were seen for fine pieces such as a Pair of Ruby and Diamond Spray Earrings (sold for £18,500) and a Pair of Ruby and Diamond Cluster Earrings (sold for £5,500), and good period pieces such as an Early 20^th Century Aquamarine and Diamond Necklace (sold for £7,000) and a Pair of Edwardian Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings (sold for £2,500).

Interesting gemstones attracted good levels of interest to sell well above estimate, including an Alexandrite and Diamond Cluster Ring, which sold for £6,000, and an 18 Carat Rose Gold Diamond Cluster Ring by Kat Florence, which sold for £14,500. Other unusual lots that sold strongly were a Victorian Citrine Brooch and Matching Drop Earrings, made circa 1850 (sold for £2,000), and an Essex Crystal Reverse Intaglio Brooch depicting a seasonally appropriate robin (sold for £1,100).

The sale achieved a total hammer price of £567,970 with an 86% sold rate for 343 lots.

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