I had a very interesting conversation with Alex Eblen of Leslie Hindman auctioneers recently about the auction house’s upcoming September jewelry sale.
My love for browsing jewelry auctions online predates Diamonds in the Library, but actually talking to Leslie Hindman’s in-house jewelry specialist about the sale lent the event a whole new perspective. We immediately spent 15 full minutes rhapsodizing about the show’s cover piece, an aquamarine and diamond necklace believed to be the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Alex went on to tell me about Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ philosophy, which helped explain the diversity of their sales: it’s their practice to try to accept as much of their sources’ estates as possible, rather than selecting just the top one or two pieces, like some auction houses would. This not only means that they have a loyal repeat customer base to source from to them (because who wouldn’t choose the auction house who is more likely to accept everything?) but it also means that their sales have a wide variety of lot types and price points.
Our focus today is the upcoming September jewelry sale, which is split over two days, the 11th and the 12th. It boasts by a profusion of noteworthy pieces, especially concentrated in the Georgian to Art Deco eras and again in the funky 1960’s-1970’s.
If you’re in NYC, definitely go check out the auction preview, which is happening in the Big Apple next week, from August 22nd-24th.
Here are some of the lots that caught my eye:
Lot 89: An Important Platinum, Aquamarine and Diamond Necklace, Tiffany & Co., Circa 1915.
This is the aquamarine and diamond piece that Alex was telling me about over the phone – the one believed to be by Louis Comfort Tiffany – and it’s just as wonderful as I imagined it would be. This intricate platinum masterpiece dates to 1915 and incorporates 132.52 carats of aquamarines and 3.18 carats of diamonds.
Aquamarine is my birthstone and I do accept gifts.
Lot 40: A Carved Coral Flexible Bracelet, Circa Mid 19th Century.
Lot 210: A Platinum, Diamond and Emerald Ring.
Lot 235: A Yellow Gold, Diamond and Emerald Ring.
Lot 209: A Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Eternity Band.
Lot 110: An Art Deco Platinum, Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co.
Lot 261: A Platinum, Colombian Emerald and Diamond Ring
Lot 194: A Platinum, Diamond and Emerald Ring, Oscar Heyman Brothers.
These emerald and diamond rings are all pretty spectacular, but I think the Oscar Heyman swirl is my favorite. I love the precision of the way the gems are set.
Lot 15: An Egyptian Revival Gold, Silver, Turquoise and Polychrome Enamel Bangle Bracelet.
Leslie Hindman’s upcoming sale actually has quite a few fabulous Victorian cuffs, and this was one of my very favorites! How gorgeous is that white detailing alongside the deep blue enamel and vivid turquoise? I’d wear this any day.
Lot 193: A Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Pendant/Brooch, Tiffany & Co.
Lot 86: A Belle Epoque Platinum, Rose Gold, Opal, Diamond and Demantoid Garnet Necklace.
Two very different, equally extraordinary necklaces. The Tiffany piece isn’t dated, but it radiates an irresistible Art Deco-feel. The Edwardian opal and demantoid piece is just a glorious fairy princess of a thing. So delicate and ethereal.
Lot 403: A 2.58 Carat Oval Mixed Cut Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond.
Lot 367: A 37.00 Carat Oval Carved Reverse Intaglio Amethyst, Wallace Chan.
Lot 369: A Fine 4.01 Carat Cushion Cut Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline.
Lot 371: A Fine 6.40 Carat Antique Cushion Cut Kashmir Sapphire.
These are a few of my favorite loose stones from the Leslie Hindman September sale. I’d love to see what could be made out of any one of them. And how cool is that carved Wallace Chan amethyst?
Lot 332: A Modernist 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Nephrite Jade Ring.
Lot 229: A High Karat Yellow Gold and Lapis Lazuli Ring.
Lot 337: A Yellow Gold and Polychrome Enamel Ring.
A funky trio, too cool not to spotlight. I’d love the chance to try these on!
Lot 136: A Fine Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Lorgnette, Charlton & Co.
Are you familiar with lorgnettes? They’re wonderful. With this pair, the glasses fold back into the beautiful diamond element, which can be worn as a pendant. Beautiful and useful.
Lot 4: A Pair of Victorian Gold, Silver, Coral and Diamond Serpent Motif Pendant Earrings.
Lot 66: A Pair of Etruscan Revival Yellow Gold Pendant Earrings, French.
Oh, Victorian earrings. How I love you.
Lot 90: A Victorian Silver Topped Gold and Diamond Convertible Tiara/Necklace.
I never say no to a tiara that converts into a necklace.
Lot 14: A Pair of Silver, Gold, Diamond and Turquoise Ear Pendants.
Lot 179: A Pair of Retro Yellow Gold, Emerald and Diamond Earclips.
Lot 340: A Pair of 18 Karat Yellow Gold Tassel Earclips, Yuri Ichihashi.
Three extremely cool pairs of earrings from three different eras.
Lot 133: A Fine Platinum, Natural Pearl and Diamond Necklace, Circa 1920.
There’s that classic geometric Art Deco perfection – with a pearl drop of remarkable quality. This necklace is a beauty, ready to be incorporated into any modern wardrobe.
Lot 1083: An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Citrine and Plique-a-Jour Brooch.
Flamboyant and fabulous.
Lot 287:A Modernist Yellow Gold and Cultured Pearl Collar Necklace, Ed Wiener.
Lot 289: A Pair of Modernist Yellow Gold and Cultured Pearl Earclips, Ed Wiener.
Lot 288: A Modernist Yellow Gold and Cultured Pearl Brooch, Ed Wiener, circa 1957,
These three modernist yellow gold and cultured pearl pieces by Ed Weiner aren’t the kind of thing that I usually get me excited, but there’s something really appealing about them, isn’t there? I love the feeling of movement in their lines, and the way I think that the articulated joints of the necklace would lay on the wearer’s collarbone.
Lot 95: A Platinum, Diamond and Emerald Cameo Brooch.
Just gorgeous.
Lot 728: A Renaissance Revival Yellow Gold, Polychrome Swiss Enamel and Multigem Portrait Pendant/Brooch.
You know I’m a sucker for Renaissance revival enamel work, and hoooooooly moly this one is magnificent. Look at those colors! And she’s all “I hold my flowers like a demure maiden…is that a breeze? No, keep painting.”
Lot 67: An Important Platinum and Diamond Graduated Line Necklace.
A classic, stunning bezel-set rivere necklace. This hefty beauty clocks in at just under 21 carats of diamonds – with an additional 23.68 carats from just the front three diamonds. More than 40 carats total. Incredible.
Lot 1024: A Edwardian Platinum Topped Gold, Pearl and Diamond Crown Pendant/Brooch, Kirkpatrick & Co.
Lot 579: An Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Monogram Brooch.
Lot 201: A Retro Platinum, Yellow Gold and Diamond Ribbon Motif Dress Clip, Udall and Ballou.
Lot 587: An Art Deco Platinum, Diamond and Onyx Bar Brooch.
This batch of brooches has plenty to love, from the regal Edwardian crown to the extremely cool Art Deco monogram to the dynamic gold retro swoosh.
Lot 8: An Egyptian Revival Rose Gold and Scarab Micromosaic Bangle.
How gorgeous is this scarab micromosaic? I love its vibrant color, and the contrast of the delicate bangle frame with the more substantial central element.
Lot 578: An Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Pendant Watch Necklace, French.
If watches were still this pretty, I would wear one. Possibly as a necklace.
Lot 183: A Pair of Retro Rose Gold and Multigem Dress Clips.
This is one of my very favorites from the whole Leslie Hindman September auction because it is just so colorful! Like many dress clips, this piece can be worn as two separate pieces or one larger one. They are set in rose gold and include amethyst, citrine, blue zircon, garnet, peridot, and pink tourmaline.
Lot 10: A Victorian Yellow Gold and Lava Cameo Necklace, Circa 1860.
It’s made of lava. Are you impressed yet? MADE OF LAVA.
Lot 52: A Victorian Silver, Gold, Emerald and Diamond Double Heart Ring, Circa 1880.
Lot 88: An Edwardian Platinum Topped Gold, Natural Pearl and Diamond Ring, Tiffany & Co.
Lot 85: An Art Nouveau Yellow Gold, Opal and Diamond Ring.
As a reminder, this is Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ September 11-12th jewelry sale, which has its NYC preview next week, from August 22nd-24th. Definitely go check it out if you have the chance! I wish I could.
If you can’t make the September sale, don’t worry – I’ve been assured that Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ December jewelry sale is going to be just as spectacular, in its very own individual way.
This post is brought to you by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
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Bidders beware! I have bought several antique Japanese Samurai Swords from Hindman and different occasions – with great disappointment in the end. Unless you can personaklly check out the items you are interested in, I would refrain from bidding as based on my exprience I feel they do not necessarily represent their items in a honest and accurate way based on their descriptions and images.
I had bought a short sword which had been sold by them before. Seeing it beiong back on auction I asked why it went back on the market before bidding as I had some concern due to this. They replied that the buyer failed to make payment. This sounded reasonable to me. However uppong winning the item and sending it to a polisher we had to discover that the blade had been in a fire hence beeing fataly damaged, rendering the value close to zero. So a total loss and I have some doubts about why this had went back on the market before. This was one of my worst purchases I have made in 30 years of collecting. A total loss.
Next I bought another two Japanese swords from them mainly for their mounts. However again I was disappointed at having to discover there was unmentioned damage once I got them in hands. One sword has had missing Shakudo elements on the Kashira, Fuchi and Kurigata. Wanting to replace those would cost more than the item is worth and it still would not be the same. Also the Tsukaito was broken in one spot and would requir a complete rewrapping of the handle. The mounts had been described to be in good condition. They are far from that and beyond economic repair. None of this had been mentioned nor ewas visible through the provided images.
The other sword has had a wacky repair job on its Saya, having beein poorly repainted and a missing part replaced with plastic. Also there was a poor repaoir on the Koiguchi are that didnt last until it arrived here. The Menuki seem to be cheap recent cast replacements. None of this had been mentioned nor ewas visible through the provided images.
So to sum up, I would recommend to refrain from bidding with them unless you vcan inspect the items you are interested in in person. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. But I feel that their auction description do not represent the items well. The items I bought I have the feelings were possibly dumped their by a seaonsed collector to make troublesome stuff go away.
I’ll take #133, thank you!
Becky, the color of the aquas in “your” necklace are amazing. I can’t believe how bright they are; they just pop! I wonder where they came from.
So incredible, right?!?
I really enjoyed seeing the pieces that caught your eye in this sale! I was lucky enough to be able to try on a few of them at the Chicago preview last week. I love Leslie Hindman jewelry auctions as there is a wide range of pieces and price ranges, something for everyone to have a chance to acquire.
And that Renaissance Revival brooch/pendant is just as vibrant in enamel color in person as in the photos!
Oooh, how wonderful!! I’m glad you got to see the preview – especially that Renaissance Revival brooch! So dreamy.
I Love the Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Eternity Band the best, the second best is the Platinum, Aquamarine and Diamond Necklace. I really love the color of the emeralds on the rings! Were all these purchased from auction?
They’re actually all about to be sold at auction! If you follow the link to the Leslie Hindman website, you can see all the details. Or even bid!