Whimsy, Watches, and Quality Decorative Wares Woo Bidders at John Moran Auctioneer’s Spring Jewelry - Art deco pieces continue to delight buyers, sell over estimate
- Discovery Session sell-through rate reaches 91%
- 600 bidders contribute to solid selling prices
News-Antique.com - Jun 21,2012 - Strong sale prices signified steady growth and an optimistic antique and jewelry market at John Moran Auctioneers’ May 8th Fine Jewelry & Antiques Auction. Gold and platinum, diamonds and pearls all made an appearance at the first of two 2012 jewelry sales, effectively sweeping buyers off their feet. Over 500 quality lots were offered in both the Catalogued and Discovery Sessions. Bidders were delighted by the breadth of the offerings, and the majority of pieces sold within or above estimate.
Quality Art Deco pieces are always appreciated Moran’s domestic and international clientele – especially when those pieces are set with diamonds. Three such lots were presented on May 8th. The first, an early Art deco diamond and platinum bracelet, studded with 220 rose and old European-cut diamonds, was estimated at $8000 - $12,000, and sold for the high estimate (all prices include 20% buyer’s premium). Two platinum Art Deco rings stole the show later in the sale: a 3.17 ct rectangular cut diamond ring topped its estimate at $11,400 (estimate: $8000 - $10,000), while a diamond and sapphire piece brought in $21,600, despite featuring synthetic (but period to the piece) sapphires. The gorgeous grouping of the stones in the ring made a visual impact that smitten bidders found impossible to deny .
Whimsical jewelry pieces were in very high demand, headlined by an antique French demantoid garnet, diamond, and opal floral beetle brooch. Created circa 1890, it featured an opal beetle with ruby eyes perched upon a nearly 4 – inch spray of flowers delicately crafted from demantoid garnets, diamonds, and pearls, set within branches of platinum-topped yellow gold. Originally estimated at $3000 – $4000, the brooch begat a bidding war that ended with a price realized of $19,200. Similarly sweet, an 18k gold walrus brooch set with gem eyes and nose, and featuring diamond-encrusted tusks, realized $2400, well over the estimated $1000 to $1500. A fiercely pretty Italian-made lion’s head enhancer, set with citrine, ruby, and 72 full-cut diamonds came to Moran’s from a private Palm Beach, Florida collection. Estimated to bring $2250 to $2750, the enhancer found a new home with an absentee buyer for $2700. A charming pair of gold crocodile earrings by Kieselstein-Cord, estimated at $1000 to $1500, went home with a floor bidder who had enough bite to outbid absentee and online buyers, realizing $1320.
Not solely the province of jewelry, enchanting animal-themed designs could also be found among the antiques and decorative arts offered up at the auction block. An Italian Rococo style silvered and giltwood grotto chair in the form of a large swan – a padded seat set upon its back – flew to $1920 at the auction block, well within the estimated $1500 to $2000.
Watches always tend to draw a crowd at John Moran jewelry sales, and this auction was no exception. Very early in the sale, a Victorian gem-set yellow gold slide watch bracelet realized $1920, well over estimate. A lady’s diamond and platinum wristwatch by Patek Philippe &
