Rossini’s upcoming sale, which will take place on 2 December, was curated with the theme of prestige in mind. Numismatics, jewellery, fine watchmaking and silverware will be in the spotlight, and antique and art nouveau pieces are among the 228 lots that make up the selection.
Made around 1870 in Rome, this yellow gold set features a decoration of pharaohs' heads and scarab beetles, which symbolise power and immortality. Ancient Greek and Italian mosaics came back into fashion with Roman jewellers near the end of the 18th century, and this set reflects this trend. However, craftsmen abandoned the traditional fragments of coloured stone in favour of thin rods of tinted glass, a technique that made it possible to create detailed miniatures such as landscapes, animals and views of monuments.
European travellers were particularly enthusiastic about these creations, frequently bringing them home as souvenirs. The set presented here consists of a pendant brooch and a pair of articulated drop earrings, and will be presented in its original case from Cesare Tombini. Jewellery with similar decorations have been reproduced in the publications Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection by Jeannette Hanisee Gabriel and Roman Mosaic by Roberto Grieco and Arianna Gambino.
The jeweller and silversmith Gustave Roger Sandoz distinguished himself at the Universal Exhibition of 1900 not only for his extraordinary Art Nouveau pieces, but also for his participation as a member of the jury.
He frequently collaborated with the glass master Émile Gallé, for whom he made gold-plated frames. Sandoz will be represented at the sale with a part of a pendant-brooch testifying to his virtuosity in the Art Nouveau style. The brooch depicts a Japanese landscape with water lilies, swallows and setting sun in a frame of plant motifs.
As Sandoz himself had succeeded his father, a Swiss watchmaker, Gustave Roger Sandoz trained and worked with his son Gérard. Gérard soon became well-known in his own right, later establishing himself as one one of the most remarkable Art Deco jewellers.
The Boucheron and Cristofol labels join the selection of signed jewellery with pieces whose provenance is attributed to Marie-Hélène de Rothschild.
‘Cinna Pampilles’ is a pair of Boucheron earrings in white gold adorned with brilliant-cut diamonds and briolette, with a gross weight of 14.4g and bearing the hallmark of the Parisian brand.
These bracelets, each with a central agate cameo depicting a character in profile, are set with rubies and diamonds and have an 18-carat yellow gold structure. They bear the eagle's head hallmark from the Cristofol workshop, which, established in 1830, is the oldest high jewellery workshop in Paris.
The pearl is considered sacred in many cultures and has been used by man since the dawn of time, but it was popularised as jewellery by Alexander the Great during his conquests.
Nicknamed ‘Tear of Aphrodite’ by the Greeks, the pearl was also a symbol of wealth and power in Ancient Rome and only members of the highest social classes were allowed to wear it. To this day, pearls are considered precious and exceptionally lovely.
Rossini will present a necklace made up of 67 fine pearls graduated by size, adorned with rose-cut diamonds. The piece is accompanied by a very recent LFG analysis report indicating ‘fine seawater pearls / no indication of treatment’.
Watchmaking will also be highlighted, with models by the biggest brands including Omega, Rolex, Jaeger LeCoultre, Chopard and Longines.
Of particular note is a superb Rolex Day Date Ref. 1807 in 18-karat gold, featuring a champagne dial with applied baton indexes, a central second hand, a date window and a railway minute track.
One intriguing item in the sale comes from the famous Russian house Fabergé. Designed at the turn of the 20th century by the master silversmith Michael Perchin, the cylindrical object has a twisting decoration of alternating translucent red enamel on a ‘barley grain’ background and opaque white enamel outlined in gold. Each end is adorned with a diamond rose.
The 228 lots will be dispersed at Rossini on 2 December behind closed doors. The auction will be broadcast live, and online and telephone bidding will be available.
