The value of items isn’t always in the value of precious metals, sometimes hidden treasures are items that will surprise you, writes Mel Lee-Patrick FGA DGA, our valuer at Hanson Holloways in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Caption: A Georgian garnet set cross pendant – coming to Holloways Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Objets d’Art in September.
“It’s just a box of leftovers and rubbish now.”
Words to make a jewellery valuer’s heart jump. Some of my very best finds have been pulled out of a carrier bags, old jewellery boxes and the bottom of handbags. In fact it has often been that a “box of old rubbish” has revealed diamonds, antiques and fine jewellery. But even savvy vendors who manage to retrieve precious metals can miss the value in more obscure and even broken pieces.
In our most recent sale in Parsons Street one of the biggest sale successes were on pieces which almost didn’t make it through the door. The box of “leftovers and rubbish” came in with a regular client who I worked with in disposing a number of pieces that had been chosen by his mother in her years collecting items that caught her eye. In between a collection of colourful contemporary jewellery pieces were fabulous examples of antique and vintage jewellery which I spotted within moments of opening the box. Tucked into a box of aged “tat” (the client’s words not mine!) were two Georgian style “riviere” necklaces in closed pack foiled, pieces of Georgian gold and other treasures.
The “tat”, when we started to tot up the low end of my auction estimates, added up to more than £2,000 on a conservative estimate.
A number of pieces were of such fineness that we have agreed with the vendor to reserve them for our Holloways Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches & Objets d’Art. The remainder, including items of broken antique jewellery, was put into our monthly Fine Art Sale.
Already wowed by the quality of the fine pieces, those pieces have already shone at auction on Wednesday 24 April 2024:
Lot 70: A collection of antique and vintage jewellery to include a set of six sterling silver buttons, marked for Reynolds & Westwood, Birmingham 1901; two Victorian gem set gilt brooches, one in serpentine form set with garnets and paste, the other a floral motif with a simulated Citrine in paste; an as found “Saphiret” brooch and a similar button; a pair of French jet slippers; a group of Victorian ceramic and glass panels depicting foxes, putti and other subjects; and numerous other items. Estimate: £60-80
Realised price £440
Lot 73
A collection of antique jewellery featuring an as found gilt and enamel Austro-Hungarian Renaissance revival brooch; an as found late 18th century baroque pearl and garnet brooch, in rose-yellow precious metal testing as approximately 14K gold; an early 19th century closed back amethyst set wreath brooch, in gilded metal; and a gilded enamel late 19th/early 20th century pendant.
Estimate: £100-200
Realised price: £250
Lot 76:
A collection of Georgian-style foil back paste jewellery, featuring two riviere collars and a 835 stamped pendant brooch. Featuring a pink oval paste riviere necklace in white metal, approximate length 42 cm with a hook clasp; a purple round foil back paste riviere necklace, 40cm long with hook clasp.
Estimate: £80-120
Realised price: £560
I’m looking forward to bringing the real stars of the show to our Fine Jewellery sale in September and I cannot wait to see what else might come in to join them!
Holloways Fine Jewellery, Silver, Watches and Objets d’Art sale will take place at the Parsons Street saleroom on Wednesday September 25 at 9.30am. Closing date for entries August 28, 2024.
To book a free jewellery appraisal, or to discuss a potential consignment, please email: [email protected]
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