Antique Bracelets, Necklaces and Rings

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Sales of antiques generally include a section devoted to old jewelry: bracelets, necklaces, rings, often in gold. These items are still affordable, perhaps due to some difficulty to assess their origin. Furthermore, as for later jewelry, changes may have been made over the years.

In the sale of Christie's in New York on December 9, I noticed a nice pair of Neo-Assyrian ear rings, but this lot was withdrawn by the auction house after a dispute that they were stolen in Iraq. Without premeditating, I confirm here one of the issues brought by such sales to their organizers. This lot had been estimated $ 45 K.

The top lot of the sale is a pair of gold bracelets of Hellenistic period, dating from 2300 years ago, large size (10 cm in diameter, slighty overlapping), each terminal in the form of a lion's head. They are in excellent condition and great delicacy of carving, as seen on the photo in the catalog. The estimate is $ 80 K (sale 2057, lot 245).

The Hellenistic era represents a geographical culmination of the Greek Mediterranean influence. Some centers of activity were very important in southern Italy, to which historians give the name of Great Greece for that time. The Etruscans and Romans were quick to reduce the foreign presence.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The pair of bracelets was sold $ 80K. This price includes the cost, so this lot did not reach its low estimate. The market for antique jewelry is not and has never been a speculative market. It has a clientele of enthusiasts.