Art Deco jewellery set to sparkle
The market for Art Deco jewellery is on the up, according to the head of silver and jewellery at Shrewsbury fine art auction house, Halls.
With two pieces of jewellery from the period selling for a combined £5,740, Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley says, “The excellent prices achieved for these two pieces and others in the auction proves that the demand for Art Deco jewellery is increasing,” she said. “They were both lovely, quality pieces of jewellery.”
A sapphire and diamond bracelet made £3,800 while a matching diamond and sapphire stylised bow bar brooch sold for £1,950.
The auction was bouyant for silver, jewellery and coins. Other leading prices for jewellery were £3,000 for an emerald and diamond cluster ring, £2,400 for a graduated diamond cluster ring, £2,300 for a graduated five stone diamond ring, £1,800 for a Victorian 18ct gold ruby and diamond navette cluster ring, £1,550 for an Art Deco diamond bracelet and £950 for a late 19th century chrysoberyl, diamond, ruby and split pearl bee brooch.
The timeless appeal of cultured and untested pearls was evident, as five necklaces all sold well to a top price of £1,000.
In the silver section, a Scottish provincial Iona silver box, the cover of which was embossed with a Viking ship within Celtic motif border, by Alexander Richie sold for £2,600. “Alexander Richie was one of the most respected and sought after silver jewellers of the 20th century and this box was typical of his work with Celtic decoration,” said Maryanne.
A harlequin part canteen of silver, some engraved with the 49th Regiment crest, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment in Devizes and a cased part canteen of Sandringham pattern silver flatware made in Sheffield between 1931-’34 sold for £1,700 each.
A family’s collection of gold, silver, brass and enamel vesta cases sold for nearly £1,700. The collection, which extended to 60 cases, belonged to a family with links in Shropshire and Pembrokeshire and was amassed over several years.
Other leading silver prices were £880 for a matched three-piece tea service, £800 for a George IV three-piece part tea service, £640 for a Victorian silver and enamel hunting cigarette case and £600 for an Arts and Crafts silver pedestal dish.
Some of the best prices were reserved for watches by leading names. A gentleman’s 18 carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust wristwatch made £3,200, a nine carat gold Le Coultre Reverso wristwatch made £2,100, a lady’s 18 carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust wristwatch made £2,000 and a gentleman’s nine carat gold Rolex Perpetual bracelet wristwatch made £1,900.
Coins were also in demand, with the top price of £3,700 going to a Royal British Legion Jersey 2014 limited edition ‘100 Poppies coin. Other leading prices were £1,800 twice and £1,700 for three United Kingdom Royal Mint gold proof sovereign collections, £1,600 for an assorted collection of pre-1947 silver coinage and £1,350 or an 1860 bronze proof of the new penny.
“The general opinion was that jewellery buyers were stocking up ready for Christmas and there was a very positive buzz in the saleroom,” said Maryanne. “The excellent prices show that the market has possibly strengthened post-Brexit and that watches by the leading names are still very much in demand.”