Sotheby’s Spring Sale of Magnificent Jewels Distinguished by Superb Color and Provenance Sale is Highlighted by The Collection of Patricia Kluge Single-Owner Auction of Always In Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels
chronicles two centuries of jewelry design
of the arts whose remarkable art collection is housed in the Boston museum that bears her name. Isabella Stewart Gardner loved jewelry and was depicted by painters John Singer Sargent and Anders Zorn theatrically wearing her rubies on ropes of pearls. According to a letter found in the Gardner Family archives, the ruby on offer was acquired from a rajah who sent the stone to Mrs. Gardner in Paris as she was known to be seeking a ruby in memory of her brother Charles Stewart.
A majority of white diamonds in the sale are the highly sought wearable sizes weighing ten carats and under. A Platinum and Diamond Ring, the property of a distinguished collector, is set with a round diamond weighing 9.25 carats of D color, internally flawless clarity and type IIa material (est. $1/1.5million). The stone has also been graded triple-X for its excellent cut, polish and symmetry. Highlighting the fancy colored diamonds on offer is a rare Fancy Intense Pinkish Orange Diamond Ring, set with a 7.67 carat, type IIa, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone that is the largest flawless or internally flawless diamond of this pinkish orange color graded by the GIA to date (est. $2.5/3.5 million).
A jewel with glamorous Hollywood provenance is The Marlene Rose, a Platinum and Diamond Brooch, circa 1930, formerly in the collection of Marlene Dietrich (est. $30/50,000). Said to be her favorite brooch and her signature piece of jewelry, Dietrich, a fashion icon of the 20th century, wore the rose blossom brooch in The Blue Angel and Shanghai Express. It was a gift from director Josef von Sternberg who is credited with launching her international film career. A collection from the Estate of Nancy M. Daly spans the 20th century featuring important diamond jewels as well as less formal gold contemporary designs in keeping with her life in southern California. Nancy M. Daly, a long-time philanthropist and children’s activist, had close ties to both the entertainment industry and Los Angeles politics, and she used her influence to tirelessly advocate for children in need. The exquisite Pair of Platinum and Diamond Pendant-Earclips, Cartier set with over 30 carats of diamonds, (est. $75/100,000) speak to her classic taste and the elegant lifestyle she led while married to entertainment executive Robert A. Daly and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan.
Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels
The April New York sale will commence with Always in Style: 150 Years of Artistic Jewels, a single-owner collection of signed and decorative jewels created over the last two centuries. Featuring well-collected makers including Cartier, Daniel Brush, Marcus & Co., Giuliano, Boivin, T.B. Starr and Giorgio Facchini, the sale is a chronology in style and illustrates how jewelry design evolved under the influence of fashion, society and world history. From 19th century micro-mosaic and revival
styles, to delicate Belle Époque and geometric Art Deco pieces, through the opulent jewels of the 1940’s and 1950’s, and right up to modern day creations, collectors will have
