Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

An 18ct gold trio ring, by Wendy Ramshaw, with acrylic stand, the central broad ring applied with an oval hardstone cameo carved to depict a flower, collet set within outer beaded border and mounted on post fitting, with full hallmark for London 1976, together with two matching slim beaded band rings, both hallmarked for London 1975, all with maker’s mark WR, ring sizes J, with original acrylic stand, height 6.4cm, base diameter 1.9cm. £500-£700

Wendy Ramshaw (26 May 1939-9 December 2018), artist and designer, was born in Sunderland. In 1956-60 she trained at the College of Art and Industrial Design, Newcastle upon Tyne, studying illustration and fabric design. Whilst at Reading University for a teaching diploma in 1960 she met David Watkins, a jeweller, artist and musician, who was to be her future husband.

In the 1960s she first came to the public’s attention with her brightly coloured paper jewellery, made in kit form, and sold by Mary Quant, her fame continuing to increase after the model Twiggy was photographed wearing a pair of Ramshaw earrings. Wendy is best known for her stacking jewellery, developed in the mid 1960s - sets of complementary gold rings, some with semi-precious stones, often displayed on a sculptural post - these were to become her signature pieces and won her the Design Council Award for Innovation in 1972.

Throughout her career, Wendy continued to push the boundaries in jewellery, sculpture and design, working in materials that ranged from precious stones to metals, plastics, porcelain and glass, and mounting numerous high profile exhibitions. In 2000 she was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry, and in 2003 received a CBE. Her jewellery now appears in 70 public collections worldwide, including the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Victoria and Albert museum and continues to inspire countless designers in the UK and worldwide.