Lot 264. 16.51 carats Fancy intense yellow diamond ring. Estimate 285,000 — 385,000 CHF. Photo: Sotheby's
Set with a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond weighing 16.51 carats, between triangular diamond shoulders, size 51.
Accompanied by GIA report no. 5171056093, stating that the diamond is Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural Colour, VS2 Clarity.
Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Sessions 1 and 2, Genève, 16 mai 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 163. A Meissen pierced dessert plate from the 'Japanese Service' for the Chinese House at Sanssouci, circa 1763, 25cm., 9 7/8 in. diam. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Photo: Sotheby's
painted with a vignette of an exotic bird perched on a branch within a blue edged border, the spirally-moulded rim with a yellow-ground diaper border edged in puce scrollwork, with six pierced trellis bands, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, impressed numeral 56,
Provenance: With Ulrich Gronert Kunsthandel, Berlin;
acquired from the above in the late 1990s.
RELATED LITERATURE
Otto Walcha, 'Friedrichs II, letzte bedeutended Porzellanbestellungen bei Meissen', Keramos, 1961, Vol. 12, pp. 31-33;
Barbara Beaucamp-Markowsky, 'Rhinozeros und Panter-their, Keramos 94, 1981, pp. 17-28;
Samuel Wittwer, 'hat der König von Preußen die schleunige Verferttigung verschiedener Bestellungen ernstlich begehret - Friedrich der Große und das Meißner Porzellan', Keramos 208, 2010, taf. no. 46.
Note: The Japanese service is the last of six services ordered by Frederick the Great, and arguably reflects most perfectly the king’s artistic taste. In November 1762 Frederick gave specific instructions on how the service should be modelled and painted; the forms were to be ‘antique’ and ‘muschelicht’, [antique or old fashioned and shell like] imitating silver shapes and painted with ‘…Elephanten, Venozeros… und andere Indianische Thiere und Vogel’, […Elephants, Rhinoceros… and other Indian animals and birds.]i The King chose yellow, as the colour of the Emperors of Imperial China it perfectly suited the fantastical interiors of the Chinesisches Haus (designed by Johann Gottfried Büring between 1755 and 1764).
The first significant group from this service to appear at auction were fifteen plates from the collection of Baron Erich von Goldschmidt-Rothschild that was sold at Christie’s Geneva, 9th May 1988, lots 152-166;ii since then pieces have infrequently appeared at auction, two plates were in the Gustav and Charlotte von Klemperer collection, subsequently sold Bonhams London, 8th December, lot 70. Pierced dessert plates rarely appear at auction, two were sold at Christie’s London, 11thDecember 2007, lot 106 and 107. Beaucamp-Markowsky, op. cit., illustrates a pierced plate in the Cologne Kunst-und-Gewerbe Museum, p. 20, fig. 4; a further pierced plate is in the Frick collection, New York.
[i] Beaucamp-Markowsky, op. cit., p. 19; Wittwer, op. cit., 2009, p. 41.
[ii] A plate from this group recently resold at Christie’s London, 10th July 2007, lot 128.
Sotheby's. From Earth to Fire, London, 04 May 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 164. A Meissen pierced dessert plate from the 'Japanese Service' for the Chinese House at Sanssouci, circa 1763, 24.7cm., 9 3/4 in. diam. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Photo: Sotheby's
painted with a vignette of a duck within a blue edged border, the spirally-moulded rim with a yellow-ground diaper border edged in puce scrollwork, with six pierced trellis bands, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, impressed numeral 56.
Provenance: With Ulrich Gronert Kunsthandel, Berlin;
acquired from the above in the late 1990s.
Sotheby's. From Earth to Fire, London, 04 May 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 165. A Meissen pierced dessert plate from the 'Japanese Service' for the Chinese House at Sanssouci, circa 1763, 25cm., 9 7/8 in. diam. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Photo: Sotheby's
crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, impressed numeral 56.
Provenance: With Ulrich Gronert Kunsthandel, Berlin;
acquired from the above in the late 1990s.
Sotheby's. From Earth to Fire, London, 04 May 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 166. A Meissen pierced dessert plate from the 'Japanese Service' for the Chinese House at Sanssouci, circa 1763, 24.7cm., 9 3/4 in. diam. Estimate £6,000 - £8,000. Photo: Sotheby's
painted with a vignette of an exotic bird perched on a branchwithin a blue edged border, the spirally-moulded rim with a yellow-ground diaper border edged in puce scrollwork, with six pierced trellis bands, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, impressed numeral 56
Provenance: With Ulrich Gronert Kunsthandel, Berlin;
acquired from the above in the late 1990s.
Sotheby's. From Earth to Fire, London, 04 May 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 72. A German silver ewer-flagon, maker's mark HL conjoined, Augsburg, circa 1681-85. Estimate 3,000 — 5,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.
of tapering cylindrical form with beaded handle, hinged cover applied with armorials and inscribed Johann Bernhardt v. Tuppau Obrister 1686 denzo zebr., marked on body and cover; 25.5cm., 10in. high; 1246gr., 40oz.
Sotheby's. From Earth to Fire, London, 04 May 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 1001. Canopic jar, Egypt, Late Period, 26th Dynasty, 664-525 BC. Estimate CHF 6 000 / 10 000 (€ 5 560 / 9 260). Lot sold CHF 6 000. Photo Koller
Alabaster. Old inscription mentioning the monkey-headed Hapi, Son of Horus. H 31.5 cm.
Provenance: - formerly part of a private collection, Southern Baden.
- Auction Gorny & Mosch, 19 June 2013 (Lot No. 35).
- from a private collection, Switzerland.
Koller. Furniture, Sculptures, Porcelain & Silver - Thursday 30 March 2017, 10.00 AM
Lot 1004. Relief fragment of a wall decoration from a burial chamber, Early Dynastic Period XIX, probably Memphitic, Egypt, ca. 1300 BC. Estimate: CHF 20 000 / 30 000 (€ 18 520 / 27 780). Sold for CHF 18 000. Photo Koller
Limestone, consisting of several fragments. Mounted on a wooden plate. H 38.7 cm. W 43.2 cm.
Provenance: - formerly part of the Ernest Brummer Collection.
- Auction Koller/Spink & Son, 17 October 1979 (Lot No. 514).
- from a private collection, Switzerland.
- from a private collection, Switzerland.
Koller. Furniture, Sculptures, Porcelain & Silver - Thursday 30 March 2017, 10.00 AM
Lot 1005. Small bowl, Early Dynastic Period, 1st-2nd Dynasty, Egypt, 3000-2700 BC. Estimate: CHF 1 000 / 1 500 (€ 930 / 1 390). Sold for CHF 1 300. Photo Koller
Diorite. Some chips. H 7.5 cm. W 10.5 cm.
Provenance: - Collection U., Switzerland.
According to the heirs, this object was acquired in the 1950/60s. There is no invoice.
Ref.: B.G. Aston, Ancient Egyptian Stone Vessels. Materials and Forms, Heidelberg 1994; p. 130 (Ill. 106).
Koller. Furniture, Sculptures, Porcelain & Silver - Thursday 30 March 2017, 10.00 AM
Lot 1003. Large vase with handles, so-called "Grabkratere", Apulia, 4th century BC. Estimate: CHF 20 000 / 30 000 (€ 18 520 / 27 780). Sold for CHF 18 000. Photo Koller
Painted clay. Restorations on the base and the handles. H 69 cm.
Provenance: - formerly part of the Saumur Collection, France.
The Gallery possesses the "Certificat d'exportation pour un bien culturel" as well as the export and import documents.
The 2016 CIRAM thermoluminescence test confirms the age indicated for the vase on offer.
With expert opinion by B. Massard, Paris 2016.
Ref.: A.D. Trendall, Red-figures vases of Apulia, London 1992. Griechische Vasen aus westfählischen Sammlungen, Westfählisches Museumesam, Münter 1984; pp. 81-85.
Koller. Furniture, Sculptures, Porcelain & Silver - Thursday 30 March 2017, 10.00 AM
Lot 1002. Janus head, Roman, 2nd-3rd century AD. Estimate: CHF 3 800 / 5 800 (€ 3 520 / 5 370). Sold for CHF 3 800. Photo Koller
White marble. Depicting the two faces of Heracles. Chips. Head with iron eyelet on top. Mounted on an iron rod with base. H 16.5 cm.
Provenance: - formerly part of the Fay Sawani Collection, New York. Acquired in the 1960s.
- Auction Bonhams London, 1 May 2013 (Lot No. 130).
- from a private collection, Switzerland.
Koller. Furniture, Sculptures, Porcelain & Silver - Thursday 30 March 2017, 10.00 AM
Lot 336. Attractive jadeite, coral, mother-of-pearl, enamel and diamond desk timepiece, Cartier, circa 1926. Estimate 82,000 — 122,000 CHF. Photo Sotheby's.
The circular dial set with mother-of-pearl inlays, black enamelled hands and Roman numerals, the bezel composed of carved jadeite and accented with coral, diamonds and enamel, the onyx base embellished with carved jadeite and diamonds, dial signed Cartier, case signed European Watch & Clock, numbered, French assay and partial maker's marks.
Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Session 3, Genève, 16 mai 2017, 7:00 PM
Lot 339. Rock crystal, mother-of-pearl, onyx and diamond mystery timepiece, 'Model A', Cartier, circa 1930. Estimate 305,000 — 405,000 CHF. Photo Sotheby's.
The millegrain-set diamond hands within a bezel applied with mother-of-pearl, rose diamonds and raised gold Roman numerals, the bevelled rock crystal case on a rectangular onyx base, measurements approximately 85 x 50 x 135mm, signed Cartier, numbered, fitted case stamped Cartier, charge key, onyx base imperfect.
Cf.: Franco Cologni, Eric Nussbaum, Cartier: L'Arte del Platino, Milan, 1995, pg. 165 for an illustration of a similar timepiece.
Cf.: Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, Franco Nencini, Le Temps de Cartier, Milan, 1989, pg. 99.
Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Session 3, Genève, 16 mai 2017, 7:00 PM
The circular dial applied with Roman numerals, the hands of arrow design applied with black enamel and embellished with rose diamonds, the bezel set with seed pearls alternating with black and red enamel, within an octagonal rock crystal frame, measuring approximately 75 x 75 x 35mm, dial signed Cartier, numbered.
Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Sessions 1 and 2, Genève, 16 mai 2017, 10:30 AM
Composed of rock crystal, lapis lazuli and onyx, the dial set with mother-of-pearl inlays depicting an exotic scene, the Roman numerals and hands millegrain-set with rose diamonds.
Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels, Sessions 1 and 2, Genève, 16 mai 2017, 10:30 AM
Lot 6. A colourless beryl and paste Devant de Corsage, Portuguese, third quarter of the 18th Century. Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 (US$7,400 - 9,900). Sold for £7,500 (€8,882). Photo Bonhams.
Designed as a ribbon bow, the stylised flower head motif issuing from the centre, set throughout with vari-cut foiled colourless beryl, suspending a pear-shaped pendant, composed of foiled paste in closed-back settings, mounted in silver, may be worn as a brooch or pendant, length 10.3cm, cased
Note: For similar examples of Portuguese jewels of this period, see d'Oray, Leonor, "Five Centuries of Jewellery", Zwemmer, London/Instituto Portugues de Museus, Lisbon, 1995, pages 84 and 85.
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 27 Apr 2017, 14:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
Lot 7. An early 18th Century gold and diamond necklace, Portuguese. Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 (US$12,000 - 19,000). Sold for £11,250 (€13,323). Photo Bonhams.
Designed as a series of ribbon-bow motif links suspending a girandole fringe, the central larger girandole with an additional foliate link, set throughout with table and rose-cut diamonds in closed-back collet settings, length 37.0cm, original fitted case by Franklin, 37 Duke Street, London
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 27 Apr 2017, 14:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
Lot 1. A gold and gem-set fringe necklace and earring suite, circa 1825. Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (US$4,900 - 7,400). Sold for £6,250 (€7,401). Photo Bonhams.
The necklace designed as a series of delicate yet elaborate floral and foliate plaques in engraved three-colour gold with minute gold bead decoration, set throughout with vari-cut foil-backed gems including garnet and chrysoberyl, connected by half pearl and gem-set floral connecting links, the converted earrings of similar design, necklace length 43.0cm, earrings length 4.4cm, fitted case by Wartski, 138 Regent Street London & LLandudno
Lot 2. A diamond girandole brooch, Circa 1830.Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 (US$7,400 - 9,900). Sold for £15,000 (€17,764). Photo Bonhams.
Set to the centre with a cushion-shaped diamond cluster within an openwork scrolling foliate surround decorated throughout with similarly-cut diamonds, suspending three similarly-set pendants, diamonds approximately 10.50 carats total, length 7.3cm, width 5.2cm, fitted case by SJ Phillips Ltd, 139 New Bond Street, London
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 27 Apr 2017, 14:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
Lot 9. An emerald and diamond girandole brooch, circa 1830 and later. Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 (US$9,900 - 15,000). Sold for £20,000 (€23,685). Photo Bonhams.
The central openwork scrolling volutes set with pear and cushion-shaped diamonds, surmounted by a circular cabochon carved emerald, suspending three carved emerald pendants, the central drop of foliate design, mounted in silver and gold, diamonds approximately 13.65 carats total, composite, length 7.8cm, width 6.4cm, fitted case
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 27 Apr 2017, 14:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET
