Antique Jewels Steal the Show at Freeman's Fine Jewelry & Watches Sale 


(Philadelphia, PA) - Old is new again November 7, 2012 - was the theme of Monday's Fine jewelry and Watches auction at Freeman's.
 
Selling to a packed room, the auctioneer Beau Freeman sold 82% of the lots on offer that afternoon to the tune of $1,660,525. There were many surprises even to head specialist Kate Waterhouse, 'I was enthralled by the interest in the older and understated antique pieces such as the Bapst et Falize bracelet ($36,250 price realized) and the lovely Kashmir sapphire ($92,500 price realized) which sold for many times their estimate'.
 
Also of note among gemstones was lot 202, an unusual diamond necklace featuring six very well matched Old Mine cut diamonds. International interest pushed the price well beyond the original $70,000-90,000 presale estimate to finally realize $182,500. 'It is highly unusual for six diamonds of such an older cut to be so well matched,' Waterhouse mused after the sale, 'I, like many others, was very taken with the effect that the diamonds produced on the necklace, so simple but so lively'.
 
Another triumph was a group of twenty four extraordinary timepieces deaccessioned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to benefit its Acquisitions Fund. The assortment drew bidders from around the world, with strong interest coming from Hong Kong, London and Geneva. In the end more than $75,000 was raised. Upon hearing of the success of the collection from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Louis C Madeira IV Associate Curator of European Decorative Arts, Donna Corbin was much impressed--"Terrific results!" she exclaimed.
 
Of note was the price realized for lot 142 the tabatiére by little known maker RL&C, which more than doubled the previous sold for price in Geneva in 2007, selling for an astounding $43,750 on Monday. 'The most charming little box only made better by the interior watch that it held within', says Waterhouse, 'a very popular piece at exhibition which garnered interest from around the world prior to sale'.
 
The next sale of Fine Jewelry and Watches will be held in Spring 2013.