Antique jewellery is in high demand at auction, and a good offering of delicate Victorian and elegant Edwardian jewels are coming up in the Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 12th September, alongside more contemporary pieces and those made by sought-after designers.
Highlights of the antique jewellery in the sale include an Early 20th Century Aquamarine Drop Necklace (estimate: £400-600 all figures exclude buyer’s premium), a Late Victorian Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond Ring in the shape of two hearts surmounted by a bow (estimate: £200-300), a circa 1900 Enamel, Coral and Pearl Brooch by Liberty (estimate: £200-300), and a circa 1905 Enamel Brooch by Child and Child in the form of butterfly (estimate: £200-400). Further interesting lots include a Split Pearl and Diamond Hair Slide/Brooch (estimate: £500-700), a Pair of Art Deco Style Ruby and Diamond Drop Earrings (estimate: £400-600), and a Jade Bracelet (estimate: £600-800). Amongst the more modern jewellery in the sale is an Amber Bracelet by Georg Jensen (estimate: £250-300), and a Diamond Ring by the Italian jewellers Picchiotti (estimate: £400-600).
Two interesting lots of early silver lead the Silver section of the sale; a Pair of George II Irish Silver Candlesticks, which bear the makers mark ‘SY Dublin 1726’ that are sold with a pair of Irish Silver Nozzles (estimate: £1,500-2,500), and a Charles II Silver Chamber-Candlestick, apparently unmarked by made circa 1680 (estimate: £500-800).
The sale offers a good selection of silver by Nathaniel Mills, a renowned 19th century Birmingham silversmith known for his fine silver boxes, vinaigrettes, snuff boxes and visiting card cases. Mills is credited with popularising ‘Castle Top’ card cases, which were produced as tourist souvenirs and were engraved with British landmarks. On offer in the sale are three Victorian examples, two depicting Windsor Castle (estimate: £500-800 each), and one depicting King’s College, Cambridge (estimate: £700-1,000). Also on offer by the silversmith are a William IV Silver Snuff Box that was presented to Thomas Holden (estimate: £500-800) and a William IV Silver Gilt Snuff Box that was presented to George Holden Esq. (estimate: £500-800).
One of the more curious lots in the sale is a George V Silver Caddy-Spoon, made in 1927 by Bernard Instone of Birmingham; it stamped with the coat-of-arms of Shakespeare, and it is possible that these spoons were produced as part of the efforts to raise the funds necessary to rebuild the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, which had burnt down in 1926 (estimate: £70-100). Further highlights of the silver section of the sale include three Elizabeth II Parcel-Gilt Silver Limited Edition Commemorative Goblets, made by Aurum of London in 1977 and commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, and each are offered with an estimate of £400-600. Finally, there is a limited-edition Elizabeth II Silver-Gilt, Enamel and Glass St Petersburg Collection Egg-Ornament by Sarah Faberge, made in Birmingham in 2004 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Central Flying School (estimate: £200-300).
The watches in the sale encompass antique pocket watches, collectable vintage watches and luxury modern watches. Highlights include a Longines Art Deco 18 Carat Gold Pocket Watch and Chain dating from 1926 (estimate: £1,000-1,500). Also on offer by Longines is a circa 1990 Stainless Steel Automatic Centre Seconds ‘Hour Angle’ Wristwatch (estimate: £400-600). Two good Tag Heuer watches comprise a circa 2015 Stainless Steel Day/Date Automatic Centre Seconds ‘Carrera Calibre 5’ Wristwatch (estimate: £400-500), and a rare and interesting Pink Floyd 1989 World Tour Lady’s Bi-Metal Calendar Centre Seconds ‘2000 Series’ Wristwatch (estimate: £800-1,200). These watches were gifted strictly to exclusive members of the Pink Floyd touring crew for their 1989 World Tour and feature the Pink Floyd ‘PF’ World Tour logo on the dial. Finally there is a 2023 Christopher Ward Stainless Steel Automatic Calendar Centre Seconds ‘C65 Dune’ Wristwatch (estimate: £300-500).
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