COLLECTOR: A 37.25-carat marquise-shaped diamond ring, estimated at up to $1.5 million is among the highlights of a forthcoming sale of a private jewellery collection while, in a separate sale, a selection of Islamic art goes under the hammer
A private collection of jewellery, placed within the top 15 jewellery collections ever sold at auction, is expected to fetch up to $10 million (€11.35 million) next week.
Magnificent jewels from the estate of Janice H. Levin will be auctioned next Wednesday and Thursday, April 24th and 25th, at Sotheby's New York.
Known for her art collection, philanthropy and business success, Janice Levin supported various cultural institutions. She contributed to the renovation of 19th century paintings' galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, considered the most comprehensive collection in the world. A gallery there bears her name.
Paintings from Levin's collection were bequeathed to the Metropolitan, as well as to New York's Museum of Modern Art. She was a patron of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. Janice Levin died on March 23rd, 2001.
Highlights from the collection include a 37.25-carat marquise-shaped diamond ring, circa 1964, estimated at $1.1 million to $1.5 million. A rare pair of Van Cleef & Arpels pear-shaped diamond pendants, circa 1968, 22.04 and 22.11 carats, is expected to go for $1.6 million to $2 million. Meanwhile, a diamond cluster necklace, circa 1965, which detaches in several places to form two bracelets or two necklaces of different lengths, carries an estimate of $700,000 to $1 million. Levin acquired her diamonds from American jewellers Harry Winston.
"Three Harry Winston pieces in Mrs Levin's collection once belonged to May Bonfils Stanton, the Denver Post heiress, whose estate was auctioned at Sotheby's predecessor, Parke Bernet Galleries, in 1962," said Ms Lisa Hubbard, executive director of Sotheby's International Jewelers
A Harry Winston emerald and diamond necklace, circa 1955, set with 12 emerald-cut emeralds weighing some 107 carats, and 341 marquise-shaped, round and baguette diamonds weighing some 153 carats, is expected to realise $900,000 to $1.2 million. The 12 emeralds were originally part of a necklace bought by Harry Winston from the Maharaja of Indore, Yashwant Rao Holkar. A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond earclips, circa 1966, which complement the necklace, is expected to fetch $250,000 to $350,000 .
A sapphire and diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1940, set with five cabochon sapphires weighing 193.73 carats, is estimated at $400,000 to $600,000, while an invisibly set ruby and diamond bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1970, is valued at $125,000 to $150,000. Some $15,000 to $20,000 is expected for an amethyst and diamond bracelet, circa 1950, set with six emerald-cut amethysts flanked by calibre-cut amethysts and round pave-set diamonds.
Meanwhile, at Sotheby's London, a diverse selection of Islamic manuscripts, miniature paintings, ceramics, metalwork and jewellery go under the hammer next Thursday, April 25th.
The highlight of the sale is a manuscript of prayers by Yaqut Bin Abdallah al-Baghdadi, later known as Yahut al-Musta`simi, a famous calligrapher in the history of Islamic art. Born early in the 13th century, the eunuch was brought to Baghdad while young and taught calligraphy by a court calligrapher. Dated A.D. 1224 and written in various scripts, the manuscript is expected to fetch £100,000 sterling (€167,000) to £150,000.
A rare small Mughal ruby and emerald-set jade rosewater sprinkler, embellished with floral and foliate motifs, is estimated at £60,000 to £80,000. The sprinkler was once in the collection of French statesman Charles Auguste Louis Joseph, Duc de Morny (1811-1865), half-brother of Louis Napoléon Bonaparte.
A portrait of a Persian emperor, acquired between 1890 and 1910 by an official of the court of Leopold II of Belgium, is a rare discovery and is expected to sell for £20,000 to £30,000.
Classic Islamic decorative patterns feature in a 17th or 18th century Mughal ruby-set dagger. Its pale-green jade hilt, which has been set with small flower heads carved from jade of a lighter tone, is a rare example of jade set into jade. It carries an estimate of £40,000 to £50,000.
jmarms@irish-times.ie
