PREVIEW: JEWELLERY: 26 MARCH

Following The Jenkins Family Collection by Louis Osman, sold at Noonans on 26 November last year, our next jewellery auction on 26 March will include another Osman treasure.

This is a ruby crystal and Britannia silver collar necklace and ear pendants ensuite, of 1974. David Mumford commissioned the suite in 1973 as a Silver Wedding Anniversary gift for his wife Mary. It was included in the Osman exhibition held at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire in May 1974. It is estimated to fetch at £8,000-10,000.

Other highlights include a Sri Lankan untreated colour change sapphire ring – the sapphire weighing 31.41 carats – with a guide of £15,000-20,000.

A late 19th century diamond and demantoid garnet crescent and serpent brooch comes with an interesting provenance. Given as a gift to his wife Christiana, the brooch belonged to Commander Henry Peel Ritchie VC, recipient of the Royal Navy’s first V.C of the Great War for his gallant command of H.M.S Goliath’s steam pinnace at Dar-es-Salaam on 28 November 1914. Noonans were privileged to sell his VC, as part of the late Jason Pilalas Collection, on 23 July 2024, achieving a hammer price of £240,000. The brooch is estimated to fetch £3,000-5,000.

The auction will offer a fine selection of early rings, to include a rare Elizabethan ruby and enamel ring, c.1560-1680. Set with a rectangular table-cut ruby within a raised quatrefoil double scallop setting, and detailed in enamel, the ring is in excellent condition and is expected to fetch £6,000-8,000.

A significant late 17th century memorial ring for Lord Chief Justice Richard Rainsford, engraved with skull motif and pair of crossed bones, and with full inscription, is also expected to attract considerable interest. Rainsford was the Judge at the Malmesbury Witch Trials of 1672, one of the last witch trials held in England.

The sale will also include selected jewels, formerly the property of Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood, which will be previewed in a future newsletter.

Further highlights will be revealed in the coming weeks.