THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF A GENTLEMAN ATTRACTS STRONG INTEREST IN DIX NOONAN WEBB’S SALE OF JEWELLERY, WATCHES AND OBJECTS OF VERTU

The auction of Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu at Dix Noonan Webb, held on 18 June, 2019 at their auction rooms in Mayfair - 16 Bolton St, London, W1J 8BQ - created huge interest, in particular the Private Collection of a Gentleman, consisting of antique jewels, gold and enamelled boxes and pocket watches, and including leading 19th century jewellery designers such as Giuliano and Castellani, John Brogden, and Robert Phillips - resulting in strong UK and international bidding.

A highlight of the sale was a beautifully carved hardstone cameo pendant selling for £9,600 – eight times its pre-sale estimate. Mounted within an opal and rose-cut diamond border, the cameo was carved to depict the rare subject of the torso of an African warrior, carrying a bow and quiver of arrows. It attracted significant interest with two strong bidders fighting it out - a private collector versus a trade buyer, with the trade finally outbidding the competition.

There was keen interest in the Indian lots, with an Indian broad enamelled and diamond set bracelet or anklet (from the Private collection of a Gentleman), attracting particular interest from two Indian bidders resulting in it selling for £9,000, against an estimate of £600-800.
The Objects of Vertu section included a highly collectable silver pepperette modelled as a Suffragette, holding a banner reading ‘Votes for Women’, and to the reverse ‘We can make it hot for you’ which sold for £4,080 against an estimate of £800-1,000.

As Frances Noble, Head of Jewellery Department, said: “The antique pieces performed particularly well, especially the examples from Private Collection of a Gentleman, showing the strength of the current market, both here and increasingly overseas, for quality period items that are fresh to the market.”