Jewellery, Silver and Objects of Vertu

A 22ct gold and ruby crystal cuff bangle and ring by Louis Osman, 1974, each broad and slightly tapering, with hammered, ridged and bark textured finish, the ridges terminating either side in small ruby crystals, the cuff with screw fastener, hallmarked for London, 1974, with maker’s mark ‘LO’, both contained in a customised wooden case, bangle internal dimensions 60 x 36mm, ring size M. £6,000-£8,000


Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).

This bracelet was commissioned from Louis by Mr and Mrs Jenkins for their elder daughter Victoria’s 21st birthday. Louis requested to make the accompanying ring as a surprise birthday gift from himself and his wife, Dilys. With the deadline for completion and knowing Louis’ sense of time-keeping, Louis and Victoria began in early 1973. This however ended up making little difference: the suite arrived less than 24 hours before Victoria’s birthday party, 18 months later.

Correspondence from Louis acknowledged that the rubies “will be small but I would like this whole piece small in scale and delicately & finely worked – very precise & very detailed but with flaunts of freedom. [...] still having to look right at 40 - or even 70!” (21 March 1973).






Exhibited:
Explosion, Talent today: the 650th birthday of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, December 1977, exhibition catalogue no. 214 (part illustrated).


A copy of this exhibition catalogue and a copy of J. Moore’s biography accompanies this lot together with further related correspondence.

Bangle width to the front 46mm, to the back 17.5mm, weight 73.2gm.
Ring width to the front 16mm, to the the back 12.7mm, weight 11gm.
42 rubies to the bracelet and 24 to the ring.

This lot is accompanied by a hand written letter from Louis Osman to Mrs Jenkins, dated 21 March 1973 regarding the commission of the bracelet, and his request to make an accompanying ring, and the request to extend the loan of other pieces of Mrs Jenkins’ jewellery for a lecture Louis was giving to the Royal Metallurgical Society on 5 April, regarding working in precious metal.

This lot is also accompanied by a catalogue of the exhibition: Explosion, Talent today, with a copy of a related letter; and a copy of a hand written valuation, dated 26 April 1978.