The exhibition is displayed from 27 November to 18 December, and is hosted by Edinburgh-based auction house Lyon & Turnbull at their London location. Featuring over thirty signed pieces of jewellery made between 1960 and 1969, the collection as a whole is representative of the unique and creative styles that arose in Britain after the Second World War. Works include designs by Andrew Grima, John Donald, Tom Scott, Alan Gard and Gillian Packard, to name a few.
Fine jewellery is familiar territory for Lyon & Turnbull, an auction house that also specialises in British and European paintings, Asian art, silver, antiques, and contemporary art and design. Established in Edinburgh in 1826, Lyon & Turnbull is the largest and most successful auction house in Scotland and one of the longest-running in the United Kingdom. They have since opened offices and galleries in both London and Glasgow, and began a marketing alliance with Freeman’s of Philadelphia in 2000. With this international expansion, Lyon & Turnbull provides valuation services and presents auctions and single-owner collection sales to markets across the UK and worldwide.
Outside of the salesroom, Lyon & Turnbull also features themed exhibitions, such as Stardust. The 1960s represented a renewed interest and burgeoning growth in the British jewellery market, because austerity measures were lifted and ‘artist jewellers’ could unleash their full powers of creativity. Abstract forms and casts from nature became popular, and a broader range of materials was embraced – precious gems were still adored, but ‘humble’ stones such as turquoise, agate and rough crystals also took a starring role.
Jewellery regained power as an art form, and these new works challenged the idea that that precious materials were an absolute necessity for creating beautiful and valuable pieces. This avant-garde approach has clearly withstood the test of time, as current collectors are still clamouring for British jewellery from the 1960s and ‘70s. Stardust is a marvellous opportunity to view key pieces from this decade, and from a single private collection that cannot be seen elsewhere.
As the exhibit is only on display for less than a month, make sure to plan your visit soon! Visiting hours are weekdays 10.30am-5pm and Saturdays 12pm-4pm at Lyon & Turnbull’s 22 Connaught St location in London.
Find more information about the exhibition and Lyon & Turnbull here
This article is sponsored by Lyon & Turnbull