Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

The Artist and the Jeweller

Innovative jewellery produced in the mid-20th century by artists in collaboration with Italian jeweller Mario Masenza will bring Roman charm to a 220 lot sale of Fine Jewellery at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Donnington Priory saleroom on Wednesday 9th July 2014. From UK and European collections the sale spans the late 18th century through Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods to jewellery from the major ateliers of the 20th and 21st century.

Maria Masenza (1913-1985) came from an illustrious family of Italian jewellers. When he inherited their shop on the fashionable Via del Corso in Rome after the war, Mario sought a new path for the family business that would prove to bring inspiration to and revolutionise the Italian jewellery market and its approach to design.

Throughout the mid-20th century Mario collaborated with emerging young Italian artists to offer his elite client list, who included the Italian Royal Family, stunningly original jewellery.

Sicilian sculptor Franco Cannilla was approached by Mario Masenza and together they produced revolutionary work until the late 1960s. An example of his impressive work is a clip brooch set with a cascade of emeralds, cabochon rubies and sapphires and brilliant cut diamond that will be offered in Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ sale of Fine Jewellery estimated at £1,500-2,000 [Lot 599]

Also joining productions in Masenza’s workshop was Italian painter Afro Basadella and his brother Mirko, his work included a clip brooch set with brilliant cut diamonds, square cut rubies and circular cut emeralds and sapphire, estimated in the Fine Jewellery sale at £1,200-1,500 [Lot 600]

Masenza’s gallery and workshops became the meeting place for artists and collectors, where painters and sculptors such as Franco Cannilla and the Basadella brothers could experiment with materials to create highly individualistic artists jewels, leading to many of their pieces being exhibited at international design exhibitions worldwide as works of art.

Elsewhere in the sale from Anglo-Italian doyen of modern British jewellery design, Andrew Grima (1921-2007), is a 1960s amethyst ring. Capturing the trends of the current jewellery market this ring is estimated at £700-1,000. [Lot 589]

The sale will be held on Wednesday 9th July 2014 at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Donnington Priory saleroom in Berkshire. Viewing at Bloomsbury House from Sunday 29th June – Tuesday 1st July and at Donnington Priory from Saturday 5th July until the day of the sale. The catalogue will be available to view online at www.dreweatts.com

Further Highlights

A Victorian diamond brooch and cluster ear pendents, circa 1860, the floral foliate brooch with a central flower head set with cushion cut diamonds, the central diamond estimated to weigh 0.82 carats, approximately 1.76 carats total; together with a pair of diamond cluster ear pendents, the principal diamonds estimated to weigh 0.65 and 0.63 carats, within a surround of old cut diamonds, with an old cut diamond surmount, approximately 2.92 carats total, shepherds hook fittings, 2.5cm long

The brooch and ear pendents were given to Lady Rose Leveson-Gower (nee Bowes-Lyon) the Countess of Granville, sister of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, by her Husband the 4th Earl Granville, William Leveson Gower, thence by decent to the current vendor
[Lot 417]
Est. £3,000-5,000

A Victorian pink spinel and diamond brooch, circa 1880, the five cushion cut spinels in claw settings with foliate diamond set spacers between, 6.6cm long

This brooch was given to Lady Rose Leveson-Gower (nee Bowes-Lyon) the Countess of Granville, sister of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, by her Husband the 4th Earl Granville, William Leveson Gower, thence by decent to the current vendor
[Lot 419]
Est. £1,500-2,000

A late 19th century Indian sub-continent gem set long chain, circa 1900, the chain with faceted gold links with rope twist detail with tumbled rubellite and emerald beads with pearl spacers between, 186cm long, with a pearl and emerald drop (formerly part of the chain)

Please note the pearls are untested and unwarranted as natural pearl
This chain was given to Lady Rose Leveson-Gower (nee Bowes-Lyon) the Countess of Granville, sister of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, by her husband the 4th Earl Granville, William Leveson Gower, thence by decent to the current vendor
[Lot 430]
Est. £1,500-2,000

A sapphire and diamond swirl clip brooch by Tiffany & Co., circa 1960, no 31028, the swirling brooch set throughout with graduated oval cabochon sapphires, with brilliant cut diamonds accents, signed Tiffany & Co and stamped New York, 3.1cm diameter
[Lot 511]
Est. £3,000-4,000

More information: www.dreweatts.com