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Mikimoto Four Seasons Collection

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Mikimoto, The 'Winter' ring featuring a baroque white South Sea cultured pearl, surrounded by blue sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines, and diamonds.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Winter’ earrings.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Spring’ ring featuring a White South Sea cultured pearl with diamonds, green tsavorites, sapphires, amethysts, and Paraiba tourmalines.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Spring’ earrings.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Spring’ necklace.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Summer’ ring featuring a white South Sea cultured pearl surrounded by diamonds and sapphires.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Summer’ earrings.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Autumn’ ring, featuring a Golden South Sea cultured pearl with diamonds, sapphires, tsavorite garnets, and spessarite garnets.

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Mikimoto, The ‘Autumn’ necklace.


Toison d or du Comte de Chambord

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Toison d or du Comte de Chambord

An Hermès malachite green matte alligator Birkin handbag

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An Hermès malachite green matte alligator Birkin handbag. Photo: Bonhams.

35cm; date code for 2013; in pristine unworn condition; height 9 3/4in, width 13 3/4in, depth 7 1/2in. Estimate US$ 60,000 - 80,000 (€44,000 - 59,000)

Bonhams. PERIOD ART AND DESIGN. 9 Feb 2014. Los Angeles - http://www.bonhams.com/

An Hermès black crocodile Kelly handbag

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An Hermès black crocodile Kelly handbag. Photo: Bonhams.

28cm; date code for 1948; height 8in, width 11in, depth 4 1/2in. Estimate US$ 9,000 - 12,000 (€6,600 - 8,800)

Bonhams. PERIOD ART AND DESIGN. 9 Feb 2014. Los Angeles - http://www.bonhams.com/

An Hermès blue leather Travel Kelly handbag

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An Hermès blue leather Travel Kelly handbag. Photo: Bonhams.

50cm; date code for 2001; height 15 1/2in; width 19 3/4in; depth 9 3/4. Estimate US$ 8,000 - 12,000 (€5,900 - 8,800)

Bonhams. PERIOD ART AND DESIGN. 9 Feb 2014. Los Angeles - http://www.bonhams.com/

Large Aquamarine Carving of a Dragon Goldfish by Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio

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Large Aquamarine Carving of a Dragon Goldfish by Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio. Photo: Bonhams.

This room-sized sculpture of generous proportions depicts a large goldfish carved from bright blue aquamarine from the unusual locality of Angola, the cabochon ruby eyes originate from Longido. Mounted with gold vermeil. Raised on a hexagonal base of polished rock crystal, the inclusions in which heighten the effect of the underwater scene. Measures 14 x 12 x 9 1/2 in Estimate US$ 15,000 - 20,000 (€11,000 - 15,000)

Bonhams. PERIOD ART AND DESIGN. 9 Feb 2014. Los Angeles - http://www.bonhams.com/

Grand élément décoratif en bois sculpté portant deux défenses d'éléphants d’Asie. Indochine, première moitié du XXème.

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Grand élément décoratif en bois sculpté portant deux défenses d'éléphants d’Asie. Indochine, première moitié du XXème. Photo WETTERWALD & RANNOU-CASSEGRAIN

Cartouche ivoire mentionnant “Offert par Dao-Minh Butuiliminh II 1952.... H. des défenses 130 cm. Estimation: 6 000 € - 8 000 €

WETTERWALD & RANNOU-CASSEGRAIN et Hôtel des Ventes NICE RIVIERA. Samedi 15 février à 14h30 à NICE. Tél. : 04 93 62 14 71 - Fax : 04 93 62 69 97 - hdvnice@wanadoo.fr

Spanish, last quarter 17th century and later pendant with a baroque pearl in the form of a hippocamp

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Spanish, last quarter 17th century and later pendant with a baroque pearl in the form of a hippocamp. Photo Sotheby's

pearl and enamelled gold; 5.7cm., 2¼in. Estimate 5,000 — 7,000 GBP. LOT SOLD. 9,375 GBP

The attractive enamelled gold frame from this pendant is very close to another belonging to the Hispanic Society of America, New York (Muller, op. cit. pp. 127-9, fig. 203). Such frames are believed to have been made in the Mediterranean regions of Spain.

RELATED LITERATURE: P. E. Muller, Jewels in Spain 1500-1800, New York, 1972, pp. 127-9, fig. 203; Y. Hackenbroch, Renaissance Jewellery, London, 1979, p. 326; Renaissance Jewelry in the Alsdorf Collection, cat. The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 2000, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 46, 68-71

Sotheby's. European Sculpture & Works of Art: Medieval to Modern . London | 03 Jul 2012.


Pendant depicting the monogram of the Virgin, Spain, about 1600-1630

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Pendant depicting the monogram of the Virgin, in enamelled gold, lapis-lazuli, and paste (glass), made in Spain, about 1600-1630. Victoria & Albert Museum, London © V&A Images.

Pazyryk culture, Terminal: Stag on a Ball, 5th century BC

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1-2-3-4 Plat émail de Hue ovale, fond bleu – L 0,47 l 0,40 – certificat de non classement

Pazyryk culture, Terminal: Stag on a Ball, 5th century BC. Wood and leather; carved. H. 12 cm. Pazyryk Barrow No. 2 (Excavations of S.I. Rudenko), Altai Region, Pazyryk Boundary, the Valley of the River Bolshoy Ulagan, Russia. The State Hermitage Museum.

Pazyryk culture, Applique: Tiger with Stag’s Horns, 6th century BC

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Pazyryk culture, Applique: Tiger with Stag’s Horns, 6th century BC. Leather; carved. 13x14.7 cm. Tuekta Barrow No. 1(Excavations of S.I. Rudenko, 1954), Central Altai, the Village of Tuekta, in the valley of the River Ursul, Russia. The State Hermitage Museum.

An octagonal-cut Burmese sapphire brooch of 47.15 carats, by Mellerio

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An octagonal-cut Burmese sapphire brooch of 47.15 carats, by Mellerio, sold for $3,648,894 at Christie’s Geneva in May 2012, setting a record price per carat for a Burmese sapphire at auction until last year. Photo courtesy of Christie’s.

Centering upon an octagonal-cut sapphire, weighing approximately 47.15 carats, in an old-mine cut diamond frame, to the baguette, single and brilliant-cut diamond ribbon detail, 5.3 cm, with French assay marks for platinum and gold. Signed and with maker’s mark for Mellerio, no. 17838

Accompanied by report no. 61461 dated 5 December 2011 from the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating.

Christie’s Geneva, May 2012. - www.christies.com

The Rockefeller Sapphire

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The Rockefeller Sapphire. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2001

The rectangular-cut sapphire weighing approximately 62.02 carats, flanked by cut-cornered triangular-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum. Signed Tiffany & Co. Estimate $3,000,000 - $5,000,000. Price Realized $3,031,000 

 

With special report 0101030 from Gubelin stating that the origin of the sapphire is Burma (Myanmar) as well as extensive additional notes discussing the exceptional rarity of the stone. . World auction record per carat for a sapphire at $175,259 per carat.

Provenance: Prior to 1934, Nizam of Hyderabad
1934-1971, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960)
24 November 1971, Zurich, Switzerland, sold at auction $170,000
8 May 1980, Zurich, Switzerland, sold at auction $1,500,000
20 February 1988, St. Moritz, Switzerland, sold at auction $2,850,000

THE ROCKEFELLER SAPPHIRE

The word "Masterpiece" is normally associated with manmade creations. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh or Pablo Picasso are all artists whose genius have left an indelible mark on our civilization. Nature can also leave its mark, whether it be Mount Everest, the Northern Lights or the Grand Canyon, these are all phenomenon at which to marvel. In the world of gemstones there is no question that the Rockefeller Sapphire should be considered a masterpiece, the sheer scale and life of the stone being something remarkable to behold.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and The Tower of London house three of the most Historic sapphire's known: the Logan (422.99 carats), the Star of Bombay (181.82 carats), and the Stuart Sapphire (approximately 104 carats), which is set in theUnited Kingdom's Imperial State Crown. Others include the Catherine the Great Sapphire (337 carats), the Raspoli Sapphire (132 carats) and the extraordinary 62.02 carat Rockefeller Sapphire. When one is asked to judge a sapphire on size, shape, color, and clarity the one by which all other gems are measured is the extraordinary 62.02 carat Rockefeller Sapphire.

The best gems, colored stones or diamonds have traditionally come from India, and the famous sub-continent is synonymous with legendary jewels. The Agra Diamond (31.50 carats), The Koh-I-nor (108.93 carats) and the Orlov (189.60 carats) are all stones inextricably linked to the majesty of Mogul India. Among the first europeans allowed to examine these gems was Jean Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) who provided illustrations of several stones he had seen in his work "Six Voyages of Jean Baptisite Tavernier". It is therefore of no surprise to learn that the Rockefeller Sapphire like so many of the world's most important gems also has its origins from this sacred land.

John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) created the modern oil industry, providing inexpensive gasoline for the nation. He also set up institutions and educational programs that flourish to this day. Of all the families it is the Rockefellers that perfectly illustrate the American dream and extraordinary success. Whether it be business or philanthropy the contribution made to the United States over the twentieth century has been overwhelming. After 1910 John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960) devoted his life to philanthropy and, with his father participated in the creation of the General Education Board, the Rockefeller University, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Laura Spellman Rockefeller memorial. However it is probably the Rockefeller center in New York City that he may be best remembered for, and it is this landmark that is one of the most iconagraphic buildings in the United States. More than 75,000 people worked on the construction at the height of the Depression era. A series of nineteen commercial buildings covering eleven acres from 49th-52nd street in mid-town Manhattan, this complex has always been one of the most prestigious business addresses in the world. His contributions to conservation are no less important from the National Parks of Acadia and Grand Teton to museums in the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. In the world of culture and the arts John D. Rockefeller, Jr. is most famous for his restoration of colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg had been Virginia's colonial capital and had ranked in the 18th century ranked alongside Boston and New York. During the restoration hundreds of nineteenth and twentieth century buildings were removed with faithfully reconstructed buildings and gardens built to illustrate the original grandeur of this beautiful city.

In 1934 John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the sapphire from the an Indian Maharajah rumored to have been the Nizam of Hyderabad through Raymond Yard who advised him on many of his jewelry transactions. Raymond Yard was also a close friend of Raphael Esmerian (1903-1976), the world's leading gem dealer of his time. Esmerian would appraise it on a regular basis. This was an opportunity for him to look at one of his favorite gems and to speak of the stone's perfection. In the early 1940's Esmerian was consulted by Pierre Cartier to improve the stone as it was to be remounted as a brooch for Rockefeller's wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (1874-1948). Cartier recut the stone to approximately 66 carats and made a brooch with calibré-cut sapphires and diamonds. In the 1950's Rockefeller's second wife, Martha Baird Rockefeller (1895-1971) had the brooch redesigned by Raymond Yard. In the winter of 1971, the Rockefeller family sold the jewelry from John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s estate in Zurich. The sapphire was purchased by Raphael Esmerian for approximately $170,000 and then sold the following year to an Italian private client. Upon this man's death, the family consigned the stone once more for auction in the spring of 1980. This time it was bought by Ralph Esmerian, Raphael's son, for approximately $1,500,000. Ralph Esmerian has continued his father's legacy by dealing in rare gems and exquisite objects in New York. It was after this purchase that the stone was repolished to it's weight of 62.02 carats and mounted in a platinum ring. In 1986 it was sold to an American private collector who only collected stones of the highest caliber. Other gems in his collection included the Ashoka, a superb D color, Internally Flawless diamond of 41.37 carats, a 20.00 carat square-cut pink diamond and an extraordinary green diamond of 3.02 carats. In 1988, this collection was sold at auction in St Moritz. The Rockefeller sapphire fetched a world record price of $2,850,000 and was purchased again by Ralph Esmerian who sold it to its present owner.

Throughout it's life, The Rockefeller Sapphire has only had itself surrounded by the best and in this auction it is accompanied by a spectacular document compiled by Gubelin, the world renowned Gemological Laboratory in Switzerland. This report stands as testimony to the rarity of this jewel and is a unique commentary on one of nature's masterpieces.

Literature: Penny Proddow, "American Jewelry", Rizzoli, New York, 1987, page 117

Christie's. MAGNIFICENT JEWELS. 11 April 2001. New York - www.christies.com

South German, probably Augsburg, late 16th or early 17th century, Unicorn drinking cup

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South German, probably Augsburg, late 16th or early 17th century, Unicorn drinking cup. Photo Sotheby's

gilt bronze, on a later red veined marble base; bronze: 13.9 by 13.3cm., 5½ by 5¼in.; base: 8.7 by 15.2cm., 3½ by 6in. Estimate 25,000 — 35,000 GBP. Unsold

Note: This gilt-bronze unicorn is transformed into a drinking cup once the detachable head is removed. The large eyes with prominent pupils and the stipled treatment of the pelt are typical characteristics of late 16th and early 17th-century South German bronze representations of animals and evoke the virtuoso work of gold and silversmiths active in Augsburg at this time. An appropriate comparison can be found in a silver-gilt prancing deer with detachable head in the Städtische Kunstsammlungen, Augsburg (inv. no. 12342). The fashion for sculptures of both real and mythical beasts is exemplified by the Fountain of the Animals commissioned by Duke Julius von Braunschweig-Lüneburg in the 1570's (Chipps-Smith, op. cit. pp. 239-9). The present bronze compares particularly closely, both in size and modelling, to a gilt-bronze figure of a stag, sold in these rooms on 10th March 1983, and, more recently, to another, sold in the Collection Yves Saint Laurent et Pierre Bergé sale, Christie's, Paris, 25th February 2009, lot 575.

RELATED LITERATURE: J. Chipps-Smith, German Sculpture of the Later Renaissance c. 1520-1580. Art in an Age of Uncertainty, Princeton NJ, 1994, pp. 237-239; Welt im Umbruch. Augsburg zwischen Renaissance un Barock, exhib. cat. Rathaus, Augsburg, 1980, vol. ii, pp. 417-419, no. 794; E. F. Bange, Die Deutschen Bronzestatuetten des 16. Jahrhunderts, Berlin, 1949, pp. 141-143, nos. 150-155, 157-162

Sotheby's. European Sculpture & Works of Art: Medieval to Modern . London | 03 Jul 2012 - www.sothebys.com

German, late 17th-early 18th century, Tankard with a knight and wild animals

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1-2-3-4 Plat émail de Hue ovale, fond bleu – L 0,47 l 0,40 – certificat de non classement

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German, late 17th-early 18th century, Tankard with a knight and wild animals. Photo Sotheby's

with an associated 18th century finial and inscribed in ink: 37/685 and with two old paper inventory labels, one inscribed in ink: 37/685, the other printed: SAMMLUNG * H.E.B. * and inscribed in ink: 79; the mounts with a Munich town mark and maker's mark MV, either for Michael Valser (active 1694-1707) or Michael Vogtner (active 1693-1712) (see Rosenberg, op. cit. no. 3850); ivory with silver-gilt mounts; overall: 26cm., 10¼in. Estimate 30,000 — 50,000 GBP - LOT SOLD. 37,250 GBP

Provenance: Emma Budge, Hamburg;
her forced sale Berlin, Paul Graupe, Die Sammlung Frau Emma Budge, Hamburg, 27-29 September 1937, lot 231, pl. 56;
acquired by the Münchner Stadtmuseum, Munich (inv. no. 37 / 685);
restituted to the heirs of Emma Budge in 2012

Note: This fine silver mounted ivory tankard is carved with scenes taken from Jan van der Straet's (1523-1605) hunting series entitled Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium, commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574) and subsequently engraved by Philipp Galle (1537-1612). The dramatic episode in which a knight thrusts a knife into a bear is taken directly from the Bear Hunt, whilst both the leaping lion and charging bull are close to their equivalents in the Fight among a Lion, Horse, Bull and Dogs (see Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. no. 49.95.886; British Museum, inv. no. 1957,0413.237).

Philipp Galle's engravings were used by Johann Michael Maucher (1645-1701) as models for a number of his ivory reliefs. Maucher's ivory and deer horn charger in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv. no. IN 4479) features a number of scenes taken from Galle's engravings of the Venationes Ferarum... Like the present tankard sleeve, the focus of the reliefs composing the Vienna charger are the hunted animals, which similarly spring and charge across each of the scenes. The present tankard finds a close parallel in a tankard sleeve in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (inv. no. Schatzk. H43) featuring a lion and bull in the same compositional arrangement. Note the very similar willow-type trees in the background, which can also be found in a number of Galle's engravings.

RELATED LITERATURE: A. Ehmer, Die Maucher. Eine Kunsthandwerkerfamilie des 17. Jahrhunderts aus Schwäbisch Gmünd, Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1992, pp. 194-9, no. C II 5, figs. 128-34; R. Berliner, Die Bildwerke in Elfenbein, Knochen, Hirsch- und Steinbockhorn mit einem Anhange: elfenbeinarbeiten der staatlichen schlossmuseen in Bayern, cat. Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1926, pp. 146, 317, p. 146, no. 872; M. Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Hofheim am Taunus, 1922 vol. ii, pp. 317, 335, no. 3518

Sotheby's. European Sculpture & Works of Art: Medieval to Modern . London | 03 Jul 2012 - www.sothebys.com


A late Victorian tourmaline and diamond twin brooch, circa 1890

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A late Victorian tourmaline and diamond twin brooch, circa 1890. Photo courtesy Bentley & Skinner

the brooch in the form of a twin heart, set with a pear-shaped cabochon-cut green and a pink tourmaline, estimated to weigh a total of 1.70 carats, both rubover-set to a yellow gold mount, to the centre a diamond cluster surround and ribbon bow surmount, the old brilliant-cut diamonds estimated to weigh a total of 1.50 carats, white claw set to a yellow gold mount, with pendant loop and detachable brooch fitting, gross weight 5.5 grams. Available at Bentley & Skinner.

A Victorian enamel, pearl and diamond brooch, circa 1880

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A Victorian enamel, pearl and diamond brooch, circa 1880

the central silver entwined double heart and ribbon bow motif encrusted with rose diamonds, applied to a cobalt blue guilloché enamel marquise shaped panel with white enamel and pearl border, to a closed yellow gold mount, measuring approximately 3cm, gross weight 5.9 grams. Available at Bentley & Skinner.

Boîte cylindrique en bois incrusté de nacre. Tonkin ,fin du XIXe siècle

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Boîte cylindrique en bois incrusté de nacre. Tonkin, fin du XIXe siècle.

à décor de personnages, pagodes, papillons et branchages fleuris. Hauteur : 13 cm - Diamètre : 11 cm. Accidents. Fentes, éclats et manques. Estimation : 250 €-350 €

(Source: http://www.expertissim.com/)

 

Petit plateau en bois et nacre. Tonkin, début du XXe siècle, Tonkin, début du XXe siècle

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1-2-3-4 Plat émail de Hue ovale, fond bleu – L 0,47 l 0,40 – certificat de non classement

2ffcb8b1e7663b3ed2cbbdd843959e82

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Petit plateau en bois et nacre. Tonkin, début du XXe siècle, Tonkin, début du XXe siècle.

à décor incrusté de nacre d'un paysage animé de pêcheurs dans une barque et d'une pagode dans un entourage de branchages fleuris et motifs de croisillons. Hauteur : 25 cm - Largeur : 35 cm. Voilé. Infimes accidents et manques. Estimation : 200 €-400 €

(Source: http://www.expertissim.com/)

Petit plateau en bois et nacre. Tonkin, début du XXe siècle

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17-1 - Plat émail de Pékin ovale, fond bleu – L 0,47 l 0,40 – certificat de non classement

Petit plateau en bois et nacre. Tonkin, début du XXe siècle.

à décor incrusté de nacre d'un paysage animé de personnages et d'enfants jouant . Les bords ornés de branchages fleuris. Hauteur : 25 cm - Largeur : 35 cm. Voilé. Taches. Infimes accidents et manques. Estimation : 200 €-400 €

(Source: http://www.expertissim.com/)

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