Late 18th- and 19th-Century Jewelry at Christie's
Staff -- JCK Online, 9/1/2003 2:00:00 AM
A 265-piece collection of antique jewelry will go under the hammer in a Magnificent Jewels auction at Christie's Rockefeller Plaza location on Oct. 2. The collection, assembled over the course of two decades by Mrs. Louis Charsky, features items representative of their age.
The sentimental 1800s saw the popularity of "message" jewelry—seen in this collection in a gold and gemstone dove brooch, the dove with a turquoise forget-me-not in its beak and a gold heart locket suspended from its wing. The word "Regard" appears on the heart in gemstones, encircled with pearls and cabochon rubies. The piece dates to 1830, with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000.
As travel became more fashionable in the 1800s, jewels reflecting the exoticism of far-flung places also flourished. Natural motifs and indigenous gemstones were popular, as a number of pieces from this collection attest. A collection of sardonyx cameos are displayed in a dramatic necklace with old mine-cut diamonds and turquoise (circa 1840, estimate $15,000 to $20,000), while an Italian revivalist-style suite, circa 1860, is a showcase of antique coral (estimate $8,000 to $12,000).
Highlighting the sale is a peridot parure dating to 1820. The set comprises a necklace, brooch, two bracelets, and a pair of earrings and is estimated to sell for $12,000 to $15,000.
At the request of Mrs. Charsky, all proceeds of the auction will go to the Denver Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of Denver residents by providing grants to nonprofit organizations in and around the city.
Public viewing runs Sept. 27-30 at Christie's Galleries, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, and the sale will be held on Oct. 2. For more information, visit www.christies.com.
