Opening the Jewellery, Silver and Watches Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 14th September, was a substantial private collection of jewellery, put together over the last twenty years by a discerning couple with a passion for jewellery and other objects that transcended the decorative arts. The forty-lot collection, which spanned the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Jugendstil movements, sold for a total hammer price £11,740. Highlights of the collection included an Art Nouveau Horn and Glass Bead Necklace by Elisabeth Bonte (sold for £850 all figures exclude buyer’s premium), and an Art Nouveau Silver and Enamel Brooch by William Hair Haseler (sold for £420).
Enamel pieces from other vendors sold well, too, with a charming Early 20th Century Enamel, Diamond and Ruby Pendant modelled as a tiny bat selling well at £1,100, an Opal, Diamond and Enamel Ring selling for £1,000, and a Pair of Coral, Split Pearl and Enamel Drop Earrings selling for £800. Further notable lots in the section included a Mid Century Ruby, Diamond and Sapphire Brooch (sold for £950), a Victorian Citrine Bracelet (sold for £850), a Cameo Brooch (sold for £1,000), and an Early 20th Century Moonstone and Diamond Pendant (sold for £1,100). The top lot of the sale, however, was a Demantoid Garnet and Diamond Three Stone Ring; made circa 1930, the unusual stone helped the ring sell for £4,000.
In a month marked by strong results for Silver and Objects of Vertu at Tennants, leading the silver section of the sale was a Pair of Elizabeth II Scottish Silver Stirrup-Cups, made in 2005 by Hamilton and Inches of Edinburgh (sold for £2,500), and a German Silver Tankard, made in Berlin in circa 1863 by Sy and Wagner (sold for £2,500). The tankard, which was decorated with cast figures of soldiers in Gothic tracery niches, was presented to Lieutenant General Louis von Mutius to commemorate 50 years of military service. Selling well, too, were a Four-Piece Victorian Silver Tea and Coffee Service, made in London in 1849 by George Storer (sold for £2,200), and a Cased Set of Six Edward VII Silver Place Card Holders, modelled as owls (sold for £650).
A small private collection of cameo glass scent bottles, the engraved glass of which had all been attributed to Thomas Webb and Sons of Stourbridge, and which sold well above estimate with a total hammer price of £4,400 for the three lots. The collection comprised a blue example with silver mounts by Horton and Allday of Birmingham (sold for £1,300), a yellow example with silver mounts by William Thomas Wright and Frederick Davies of London (sold for £1,300), and a red example with silver mounts by Sampson Mordan and Co of London (sold for £1,800).
The market for good, original vintage watches continues to go from strength to strength, demonstrated by buoyant prices for the likes of a circa 1930 Rolex: Silver Octagonal Oyster Wristwatch (ref:6479), which was retailed by Asprey and sold for £1,700. Unusual watches caught the eye of bidders, too, with an Edox: Stainless Steel GMT World Time Display Geoscope 48 (ref: 200171) from the 1970s selling for £550, and a Movado: Silver Enamel and Black Lacquered Purse Watch from the 1930s/1940s and retailed by Cartier selling for £800. Pretty enamel watches sold well, too, such as a circa 1850 Lady’s 18 Carat Gold Enamel and Diamond Set Fob Watch by Rossel & Fils, which sold for £750.
The sale achieved a total hammer price of £228,870 with an 86% sold rate for 505 lots.
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