PREVIEW: JEWELLERY: 23 JUNE

Noonans Mayfair’s Summer Jewellery auction on 23 June, Day One of a two-day summer auction, will be offering over 400 lots of selected jewellery.

Highlights include a large section of Medieval and post medieval jewels, including numerous detectorist finds.

bezel with carved intaglio depicting a salient (springing) red deer stag or hart with five pointed antlers being brought down by a hunting hound, is estimated to fetch £12,000-15,000.

A rare diamond and enamel ring, circa 1550-1650, found in Wormington, Gloucestershire in November 2024, carries expectations of £15,000-20,000. A gold posy ring, 16th to 17th century, bearing the unusual inscription A FAT WENCH HATH NO FELLOW, caused amusement when consigned, although contemporaries of the ring would likely have understood the word ‘fat' to mean 'prosperity or abundance of wealth’, and the phrase ‘hath no fellow’ to be interpreted as ‘having no
equivalent/comparable’. The ring is estimated to fetch £800-1,000.

This section includes three 17th century memento mori rings, one example for Sir William Ellis, a prominent member of the late 17th century judiciary, an MP and a parliamentarian in the English Civil War, another, a named ring for Dr Richard Busby, Headmaster of Westminster school for 55 years, from 1638-1695. The three rings are expected to realise in the region of £2,000-3,000 each.

Fine diamonds and antique jewellery feature strongly in the sale. A diamond single stone ring, set with a brilliant-cut diamond, weighing 5.00 carats, is expected to lead the sale with an estimate of £22,000-26,000.

A diamond tiara, circa 1890, converting to a fringe necklace, leads the antique jewels. Set with
6.50-7.00 carats of diamonds, the tiara is estimated at £4,000-6,000.