Jewellery fit for a princess was at the heart of Trevanion Auctioneers’ April auction. The star of the show was an early 20th century diamond set bracelet made for Russian Princess Irena Obolensky (1917-1996).
The bracelet dated to the early 1920’s, a decade which revolutionised jewellery design and perfectly illustrated in the piece sold at Trevanion Auctioneers in their April auction. Jewellery valuer Amelia Tomkinson said ‘The 1920’s was a really important era in jewellery design across Europe, following the end of World War I, the decade saw increasing technological advances. The roaring twenties saw women wearing more simple, streamlined designs, and their jewellery had to match. In this new decade, jewellery was stripped back to minimal, geometric shapes, it is no wonder that Princess Obolensky, a society beauty, had a bracelet that epitomised the glamour and sophistication of the era’.
The total diamond weight was estimated at twenty carats but was not marked, and so the maker of this unique piece remains a mystery. However, Managing Partner at the firm of auctioneers Christina Trevanion had her suspicions: “There is a distinct Persian influence to this exquisite bracelet” commented Christina, “its strong repeated geometric and buckle-link motifs were borrowed from across Mughal, Persian and Chinese decorative arts, and formed a key element of Cartier’s style vocabulary in the Art Deco era when the bracelet was made”.
Consigned by a Staffordshire vendor, the auctioneer’s pre-sale estimate for the bracelet was £12,000-£18,000, and it proved to be very popular with bidders across the globe. After a lengthy bidding battle between telephone bidders, the piece eventually sold for £10,000 above its higher pre-sale estimate finally settling at £28,000 plus fees. Of the sale Christina added ‘I am utterly delighted that we achieved such a fantastic result for our vendor, Amelia’s careful research and exquisite photography, combined with our network of global bidders, ensured that we achieved the best possible price for our client’.
The auction swiftly moved from 1920’s Russian royalty to 1920’s Welsh aristocracy when a portrait of Daisy Williams-Wynn, wife of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, was offered by the auctioneers. The work was painted by renowned Royal and society portrait artist Sir Oswald Birley (1880-1952). “Birley was a favourite artist of the Royal family, painting highly regarded portraits of monarchs from George V to Elizabeth II, as well as hugely influential figures like Winston Churchill and Mahatma Ghandi” commented paintings valuer Simon Grover. The Daisy Williams-Wynn portrait was commissioned as a wedding present from members of the Wynnstay Hunt and was completed in 1921. It sold to a private collector for £5000 plus fees.
At the other end of the spectrum (or plectrum), a single owner collection of classic guitars also caused a stir in the saleroom. “The Shropshire vendor was a musician who took great care of his prized collection of instruments” said valuer Ian Woodward, “They were all in excellent condition and sounded beautiful”. Top of the pops was an American made 1997 Gibson Les Paul custom electric guitar, which sold for £2,200 plus fees, closely followed by a Canadian Jean Larrivee model LV09 acoustic guitar, which made £1700 plus fees. In total the collection sold for £12,000 plus fees.
Other auction highlights included an early 20th century Lund and Blockley 18ct yellow gold half hunter chiming pocket watch with an unusual enamel crest reading ‘Vive ut vivas’ (live that you may live), which sold for £3,000 plus fees, and an 18th century French Louis XV ormulu mounted rosewood bombe commode, believed to be by renowned maker Jean-Francois Coulon, which sold for £2,400 plus fees.
“April has been a wonderful month for us” commented Managing Partner Christina Trevanion following the auction. “To have had the opportunity to handle and be entrusted with such important pieces of jewellery, art, works of art and furniture is truly an honour, and I’m delighted the auction was such a success for our sellers across the board, it proves that the UK auction market remains strong and vibrant, which bodes well for the future”.
Trevanion Auctioneers will hold their next Fine Art & Antique Auction on June 26th, the consignment deadline for which is June 7th. To book a valuation appointment please call Trevanion Auctioneers on 01948 800 202.
