Lot 359: Diamond and White Gold Pendant
There’s a very good reason the internet is brimming with kitten and puppy dog videos – everyone needs a bit of added cuteness in their life and jewelley designers are happy to fill that desire.
The insect world continues to inspire – from chubby bees and slender dragonflies and fluttery butterflies to quirky lady bug beetles. Adorableness has ‘legs’: sometimes eight of them on a spider motif brooch. Also from the air, you can admire accurate or fanciful representations of feathery owls, hummingbirds and ducklings.
On terra firma and at sea: a ferocious lion is tamed when it’s spiky gold mane is imaginatively tousled; a giraffe stretches its neck ever so elegantly: add sunglasses and watch the charm quotient ramp up. You’ll notice the trend towards the diminutive as smallness has a large impact: formed of baroque pearls, tiny bunnies and wee mice that you’d probably not want to see in your house are magically transformed into a delight on a lapel; picture a penguin on skis or a bejewelled koala bear. For brilliant colour, add in parrots and toucans and peacocks, too; appealing fish, starfish, sea horses, dolphins, frogs and turtles; dependable favourites come from the canine and feline world.
Miniatures have a novelty value all of their own when everyday items such as clothing or toys are shrunk in size, encrusted with gems or decorated by enamel, worthy of a smile.
The classic parlour game asks the question: is it animal, vegetable or mineral? Any and all can have a touch of the whimsical about them, limited only by the skill and imagination of the designer; that’s when elegant segues into sweetness.
Lot 35
An Emerald and Gold Pendant/Brooch
Modelled as a petite 14k gold bee with textured honeycomb wings and an emerald-set body
Estimate: $300-$400
Lot Details
Lot 36
An Emerald, Diamond and Gold Pendant/Brooch
Modelled as a petite 14k gold bee with textured honeycomb wings and an emerald-set body accented by a round diamond
Estimate: $300-$400
Lot Details
Lot 74
A Garnet and Gold Pendant/Brooch
Realistically modelled as a textured dragonfly accented by garnets, mounted in 14k gold
Estimate: $300-$400
Lot Details
Lot 101
A Diamond and Gold Pendant/Brooch
Modelled as a petite 14k gold bee with textured honeycomb wings and a pavé-set diamond body
Estimate: $400-$600
Lot Details
Lot 114
A Sapphire and Gold Brooch
Designed as a whimsical school of fish, each with a tiny sapphire eye, in textured 18k gold
Estimate: $500-$700
Lot Details
Lot 131
A Pair of Enamel, Diamond and Gold Cufflinks and A Pair of Ear Clips
Of equestrian motif, each modelled as a Jockey’s silk cap, in red and blue enamel accented by tiny diamonds, mounted in 14k gold
Estimate: $500-$700
Lot Details
Lot 142
A South Sea Cultured Pearl, Diamond and Gold Brooch/Pendant
The small bee with a cultured pearl body, measuring 12.9 mm by 15.5 mm, small cultured pearl eyes, further decorated with pavé-set diamonds, mounted in 18k gold
Estimate: $500-$700
Lot Details
Lot 196
A Gold Brooch
The whimsical highly-sculpted perched owl with textured feathers, the winking eyes accented by diamonds and a ruby, mounted in 14k white and yellow gold
Estimate: $400-$600
Lot Details
Lot 359
A Diamond and White Gold Pendant
The very long openwork plaque suspending from a square surmount and entirely decorated by round diamonds weighing approximately 0.60 carat, mounted in 18k white gold
Estimate: $400-$600
Lot Details
Lot 461
A Coral, Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Ring
The elaborate highly dimensional and asymmetrical design with a sapphire floral spray accented by round diamond arches, and featuring a dome centering a coral ladybug, mounted in 14k gold, size 6 1/2
Estimate: $300-$400
Lot Details
Lot 515
A Diamond and Two-Tone Gold Brooch
Each highly sculpted dolphin accented by a tiny diamond eye, in polished and brushed textured 18k yellow and pink gold
Estimate: $400-$600
Lot Details
Lot 520
A Multi-Gem and White Gold Pendant/Brooch
The whimsical frog decorated with multi-coloured sapphires and diamonds, mounted in 14k white gold
Estimate: $400-$600
Lot Details
Lot 73
A Gem-Set, Enamel and Gold Pendant Watch and Chain Necklace
The highly-sculpted textured peacock accented by green enamel, sapphires, a diamond and a cultured pearl drop, the hinged cover opening to reveal a gilt dial with a small round emerald at each quarter, manual jewelled movement, joined to a rope linking chain, in 14k gold, length 26 inches
Estimate: $800-$1,200
Lot Details
