PRIVATE COLLECTIONS BY LOUIS OSMAN AND GEORG JENSEN TO BE OFFERED AT NOONANS

A collection of jewellery and silver by 20th century architect and goldsmith Louis Osman will be offered at Noonans Mayfair in a sale of Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. It is estimated to fetch between £120,000-160,000.

The Jenkins Family Collection, a significant private collection commissioned from Louis Osman by Maurice and Dorothy Jenkins in the 1970s and 1980s, comprises 12 lots and has estimates ranging from £800 to £60,000.

As Frances Noble, Associate Director and Head of Jewellery at Noonans, commented: “Most famous for designing the Prince of Wales’ Investiture crown of 1969, Louis Osman was to become one of the most important British designers and goldsmiths of the 20th century. He was not a prolific maker; hence this is a rare opportunity to purchase examples of his work.”



She continues: “All the pieces in The Jenkins Collection were individual commissions for Maurice and Dorothy Jenkins and their three children. The Jenkins met Louis in the early 1970s when he and his wife Dilys were living at Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire, and where Louis had set up his gold and silver workshops.”

Among the highlights of The Jenkins Collection is a stunning parure of opal set jewellery comprising a necklace, ring, earrings, and brooch, all crafted in 22ct gold, the opals personally sourced by Maurice Jenkins whilst on business trips to Australia, and contained in a customised yew wood case, the wood sourced from the Canons Ashby estate. This is estimated at £40,000-60,000 [lot 373].

An impressive 22ct gold azurite crystal and sapphire necklace, dating from 1982, is estimated to fetch £20,000 - 30,000 [lot 371]. Osman’s original pen and watercolour design for this piece was sold as part of The Personal Archive of Louis Osman at Noonans on 27 March 2018.

Also of note is the ‘Aquarius’ silver goblet, decorated with engraved ripples, small pearl bubbles and blue enamelled wave details, the enamel work executed by Louis’ wife, Dilys, a talented enamelist. The goblet was commissioned by Maurice and Dorothy as a 21st birthday present for their son Toby. It is estimated at £2,000-3,000 [lot 365].

The sale will also include further items by Louis Osman from different properties, including an exquisite gold, citrine and green enamel pendant necklace, 1976, the enamel work again done by Dilys. The large oval-cut golden citrine is mounted within a gold wrap-around setting of overlapping apple green enamelled shamrock leaves, and suspended from a long chain of conforming design, is estimated at £20,000-30,000 [lot 376].

Two framed watercolour and pencil studies for the Prince of Wales Investiture Coronet by Osman, 1969, comprising two sketches of the orb and arch details, gilt heightened and annotated, both initialled ‘LO’, are included in the sale and estimated at £1,500-2,000. [lot 374].



The auction will also include a single-owner collection of Georg Jensen jewellery, comprising 42 pieces, including many rare early examples, and is expected to fetch in the region of £35,000-40,000.

The collection comprises a wide range of necklaces, bracelets and brooches. A silver and amazonite four row necklace, design No. 1, dating from 1933-1944, with a swagged leaf and seed design, and formed as a series of alternating foliate and stylised flowerhead links with bead and oval chain connectors, is estimated at £3,000-4,000 [lot 102], and nine examples of Henning Koppel’s iconic silver and enamel brooches, designed for Georg Jensen between the late 1940s -1960s, are estimated in the region of £150-300 each.