Bonhams will auction five pieces of jewelry that Alexander Calder made for his mother, sister, and niece, offering them for the first time in nearly 70 years at its Post-War & Contemporary Art sale on Nov. 19. The group has been on view at the house’s New York flagship, 111 West 57th Street, since Nov. 7. Bonhams puts the jewels’ value at nearly $300,000.
The top lot is a circa 1940 necklace made for Calder’s sister, Margaret “Peggy” Calder Hayes, estimated at $100,000 to $150,000. A pair of earrings is estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. The other lots are two brooches bearing the initials of his mother and niece, and a ring, with estimates from $18,000 to $30,000. The mother was Nanette, and the niece, Eva.
Though best known for his mobiles, Calder was a prolific jeweler. The Met, which staged the first museum show devoted to his jewelry in 2008, counts a limited amount of just around 1,800 pieces, mostly in brass, copper, and silver. Each is unique, and many were made for a specific wearer. His clients included Peggy Guggenheim, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Anjelica Huston.
He never put the jewelry into production despite offers, Bonhams said, so any piece that surfaces is scarce.
The sale arrives as his jewelry draws fresh attention. Kendall Jenner wore a pair of his hand-hammered silver earrings to the Venice Film Festival in September, which Bonhams said renewed interest in this side of his career. Fashion coverage reported that her earrings were made by Calder in 1955. The earrings in this sale are a separate pair.
The sale takes place the day after Bonhams’ 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale, at its 57th Street galleries.
(Photos courtesy of Bonhams)
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