A rare full set of “Twelve Days of Christmas” surprise boxes by royal jeweler Stuart Devlin (1931–2018) will head to auction this month, directly from Devlin’s personal collection. The set—No. 3 from a limited edition of 100—is being sold by the silversmith’s widow, Carole Devlin, through Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury, England. Estimated to achieve between £7,000 and £10,000 ($9,000–$12,500), it will be featured in the auction house’s Silver, Gold & Objects of Vertu sale on Oct. 21.
Devlin, who was granted a royal warrant by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982 as goldsmith and jeweler to Her Majesty, was renowned for blending technical brilliance with artistic imagination. The Woolley & Wallis sale presents an opportunity to own one of Devlin’s most iconic and joyful creations and a signature example of his playful approach to luxury design: In a series of annual “surprise boxes,” Devlin represented each verse of the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” one per year from 1970 to 1981.
Every handcrafted box, shaped like either a Christmas pudding or a gift-wrapped package, opens to reveal a miniature sculptural scene of one of the “Twelve Days” gifts, from a partridge in a pear tree to 12 drummers drumming. Each piece—made of silver, silver gilt, and enamel—is presented in its original black case lined with red velvet.
“Complete sets in good condition and from such a limited edition are rare,” said Rupert Slingsby, silver specialist at Woolley & Wallis, in a statement. “That, combined with this set coming directly from Stuart Devlin’s own private collection, makes this set a true collector’s delight. Beautifully festive, richly detailed, and steeped in seasonal charm, this complete set makes the ultimate Christmas gift or heirloom piece.”
(Photo courtesy of Woolley & Wallis)
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