Auction Alert: Jewellery, Watches & Silver

Amethyst & aquamarine necklace

Regular readers will know that I have a thing for vintage Scandinavian jewellery and this week’s auction features a number of lots including a pretty cocktail ring designed by Niels Erik From. My favourite piece of jewellery in this auction is hands down the grasshopper brooch – it’s exquisite! Estimates on the items I’ve featured range from £80 to £6,000 – so there are options to suit every budget.

There are a total of 686 lots in this month’s Jewellery, Watches & Silver sale – almost half of which is given over to jewellery. The auction takes place on Saturday 18th September from 10am at Elstob and Elstob, based in Ripon, Yorkshire.

As ever, we only feature sales where prospective buyers are able to bid online. Please note, there’s a buyer’s premium of 22% (26.4% including vat) on top of the hammer price of each lot.

Absentee and live bids can be placed direct on the Elstob and Elstob website; if you use this method, there’s an additional 1.5% (plus vat) premium. Bidding on this sale is also available on The Saleroom, [where there’s an additional 4.95% (plus vat) surcharge]; Invaluable, [where there’s an additional 5% (plus vat) surcharge]; BidSquare, [where there’s an additional 3% (plus vat) surcharge]; Live Auctioneers, [where there’s an additional 5% (plus vat) surcharge]; Drouot Digital, [where there’s an additional 3% (plus vat) surcharge] and EasyLiveAuction, [where there’s an additional 3% (plus vat) surcharge or the option of a flat fee of £3].

Victorian banded agate jewellery

Lot 1436: A group of Victorian banded agate jewellery
Estimate: £1,000 – 1,500
Comprising: a necklace of slightly graduated beads, length 61.5cm; another bead necklace, length 43.5cm; a bracelet, of graduated oval links, length 19cm; a ring, ring size ‘N1/2’; and a stick pin, with a glazed locket back. (5)

Amethyst & aquamarine necklace

Lot 1487: A late Victorian amethyst and aquamarine fringe necklace
Estimate: £300 – 500
The front with graduated knife-edge drops set with oval-cut amethyst and pale aquamarine, to a fine belcher chain. Drop length 2cm-2.8cm, chain length 42.5cm, 13.0 grams

A late 19th century pearl, diamond and green garnet grasshopper brooch

Lot 1495: A late 19th century pearl, diamond and green garnet grasshopper brooch
Estimate: £4,000 – 6,000
Modelled upon an old-cut diamond set branch, the body set with a baroque pearl and green garnets and picked out with green enamel, total estimated diamond weight 0.50ct approximately. Measures 2.5cm by 3.5cm, 7.1 grams

Niels Erik From - a Danish silver smoky quartz dress ring

Lot 1635a: Niels Erik From – a Danish silver smoky quartz dress ring
Estimate: £80 – 120
A round-cut smoky quartz in a high claw setting to an angular shank, maker’s mark ‘from’, ‘925s’, ring size ‘K’

Matti J. Hyvärinen - a Finnish silver and amethyst ring

Lot 1641: Matti J. Hyvärinen – a Finnish silver and amethyst ring
Estimate: £80 – 120
The scrolling oval head with a textured finish and set with an amethyst sphere, to a crossover shank, maker’s mark ‘mjh’, Turku 1973, ring size ‘O’ (adaptable)

A pair of mid 20th century Scandinavian silver pendant earrings

Lot 1652: A pair of mid 20th century Scandinavian silver pendant earrings
Estimate: £200 – 300
Articulated openwork frames with a central pendant drop, marked ‘830’, with screw fittings. Length 8cm

Designer Desire: Niels Erik From

Selection of jewellery designs by Niels Erik From | H is for Home

It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and, as has become customary, Justin bought me a piece of vintage Scandi jewellery. This time, something by Danish designer, Niels Erik From (1908-1980). The item he bought me can be seen in the top pair of images above; a beautiful silver pendant with a cabochon rhodochrosite stone.

Beginning in 1931, From sold his work via his own retail premises. It was only in 1944 in the southern Danish town of Nakskov that he founded his smithy. He began his career producing designs in the Skønvirke style – a Danish movement similar to Art Nouveau. It’s his later work in the clean, modernist, geometric style which I far prefer. Ironically, these examples were created by other designers under From’s name.

If you like his designs, there are always examples for sale on Etsy, eBay and specialist vintage Scandinavian jewellery dealers. I think Justin bought this latest gift from Scandinavian Silver.

Image credits:

1st Dibs | Auktionsverket | Cream and Chrome | Dorotheum | John Kelly | Modernity