Left: Nya Kong wears lot 99 — Aldo Cipullo, Onyx and Gold Necklace. Estimate: $25,000–35,000.
Right: Nell Rebowe wears lot 96 — Aldo Cipullo for Cartier, Onyx and Lapis Lazuli Necklace. Estimate: $20,000–30,000.
An opportunity awaits. Join us from 8–12 June to discover firsthand the array of jewels on offer in our 13 June auction. The auction’s 140 lots showcase exquisite signed jewels from renowned houses such as Bulgari, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, and more.
The sale introduces a range of fresh-to-market signed jewels sourced from private collections worldwide. The cornerstone of the auction is an important collection of French Art Deco jewels from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Simcox Swensson.
Over his lifetime, the renowned architect curated this museum quality offering of jewels for his beloved wife Sue.
Earl Simcox Swensson and his wife Sue.
One need only look to two of the more iconic projects in Nashville that were designed by Swensson’s firm — the “Batman Building” and the Opryland Hotel — to draw connections between his compelling geometric interests in both architecture and jewelry design.
Julien Lannert wears lot 68 — Georges Arfvidson & Cie, Set of Art Deco Diamond Ear Clips and Clip. Estimate: $8,000–12,000.
As such, many of the pieces of the Swensson collection are inspired by architecture, particularly from the Egyptian Revival and Art Deco periods. For example, the Mauboussin ‘Cheops’ necklace and bracelet set, fashioned after the Pyramids of Giza, were designed in the 1970’s when the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition toured six countries, sparking a resurgence of Egyptomania throughout popular culture and across the globe.
Nya Kong wears Lot 101 — The George L’enfant for Mauboussin Gold Necklace, ‘Cheops’, which was modeled after the Pyramid of Giza mid-construction and is featured in the book Mauboussin by Marguerite De Cerval (Estimate: $30,000–50,000) and lot 100 — George L’enfant for Mauboussin, Gold Bracelet, ‘Cheops’ (Estimate: $10,000–12,000).
Lot 67 — Two Art Deco Diamond Clips. Estimate: $15,000–25,000.
Also from the Swensson collection, the silver torque necklace by Suzanne Belperron dates from the mid-1930s — Belperron’s most celebrated era.
Nell Rebowe wears lot 75 — Suzanne Belperron, Art Deco Silver Collar Necklace (Estimate: $12,000–18,000) and lot 74 — René Boivin, Art Deco Sapphire Cuff Bracelet (Estimate: $15,000–20,000).
A visionary, she rejected the finely set pavé of perfectly geometric art deco diamond bracelets and crafted sensuous, large scale, bold jewels that drew inspiration from a diverse array of sources including Congolese tribes, Brutalist architecture, and Japanese Sakura.
The René Boivin cuff from 1935 was designed by Juliette Moutard with clear references to Suzanne Belperron and her indelible design influence on the house of Boivin.
View lots 54 – 101 to discover the complete Swensson collection on offer.
Julien Lannert wears lot 60 — Diamond and Onyx Ring (Estimate: $4,000–6,000) and lot 63 — Chaumet, Art Deco Diamond Ring (Estimate: $6,000–8,000).
“The selection combines the best examples of jewels of their kind from each period and maker,” says Eva Violante, Phillips Jewels’ Head of Department, Americas. The variety of pieces in the sale will appeal to a wide range of collectors, as Violante tells us, “With more than 30% of the sale being offered without reserve, this auction truly offers something for collectors of all levels and interests.”
Browse the complete offering to discover further remarkable pieces that will inspire and intrigue collectors of all levels and tastes.
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