Preview: Masterpiece London 2015

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Masterpiece London, the summer’s leading international cross-collecting fair for art, antiques and design, is back for its sixth edition, and will take place at the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 25 June – 1 July 2015 (Preview on 24 June).

Masterpiece London is indeed a fair which offers for sale museum-quality works with superb provenance from over 150 galleries worldwide and provides an unparalleled opportunity to buy or admire the best pieces available across every discipline in the art market.

Showcasing works that span over 4,000 years of art history, from antiquity to the present day, the Fair is a unique event that now stands at the same level as TEFAF or the Biennale des Antiquaries.

As my love goes entirely to jewellery, I would now like to introduce you to some of the fair’s jewellery highlights, hoping you will feel the same feelings of marvel and admiration that I felt.

Van Cleef & Arpels, exhibiting for the first time, has a strong presence at Masterpiece London, featuring amazing necklaces and one very elegant and harmonious new Ballerina clip (among others one-of-a-kind jewels):

Van Cleef & Arpels Ballerina Clip. White gold, round diamonds, one rose-cut diamond, pink gold, round rubies. 2015.

Van Cleef & Arpels Coccinelle Necklace. Transformable into a Bracelet. Palais de la Chance collection, 2012. White gold, round and pear-shaped diamonds, round and square-cut red spinels, red spinel beads, round black spinels, onyx.

Van Cleef & Arpels Acapulco Necklace, with detachable Clip. Pierres de Caractère - Variations collection, 2014 - White gold, round, pear-shaped, baguette-cut, marquise-cut and square-cut diamonds, square-cut blue and mauve sapphires, 3 oval-cut mauve sapphires for 12.90 carats (Madagascar), 4 oval-cut blue sapphires for 14.99 carats (Sri Lanka), 18 pear-shaped emeralds for 45.30 carats (Zambia). — Van Cleef & Arpels Acapulco Necklace, with detachable Clip. Pierres de Caractère – Variations collection, 2014 – White gold, round, pear-shaped, baguette-cut, marquise-cut and square-cut diamonds, square-cut blue and mauve sapphires, 3 oval-cut mauve sapphires for 12.90 carats (Madagascar), 4 oval-cut blue sapphires for 14.99 carats (Sri Lanka), 18 pear-shaped emeralds for 45.30 carats (Zambia).

Van Cleef & Arpels Izmir Necklace. Bals de Légende collection, 2012. White gold, pink gold, round, baguette-cut and pear-shaped diamonds, citrines, amethysts, pink tourmalines, white opal beads, spessartite garnet beads, oval-cut spessartite garnet, pink, blue and purple spinels, yellow gold, one cushion-cut yellow sapphire of 50.79 carats (Sri Lanka).

Van Cleef & Arpels. Necklace with detachable clip and detachable bracelet and earrings with detachable pendants. Heritage collection, 1959. Yellow and blue sapphires, emeralds and diamonds.

Van Cleef & Arpels Ring. Heritage collection, 1958. Yellow gold, one emerald-cut emerald of 35.35 carats (Colombia), platinum, round diamonds.

Continuing with true jewellery masterpieces and jewels of historic provenance, New York based jewellery dealer Siegelson (USA) will offer for sale an exquisite pair of earrings containing pearls which belonged to the last Empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo.

The Empress Eugenie Gray Pearl earrings.

A portrait of the Empress hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in which she can be seen wearing these pearls.

Also, Siegelson will feature The Whitney Emerald: a splendid Art Deco Platinum, Emerald, and Diamond Ring by Tiffany & Co., dated circa 1925.

This ring, formerly property of Mrs Helen Hay Whitney, is centering an emerald-cut 8.51 carat Colombian emerald, certified by the American Gemological Laboratories as having insignificant clarity enhancements.

The emerald is set in a millegrain bezel accented on the sides with old European-cut diamonds (of an approximate weight of 0.50 carats) in millegrain settings, the outline of the millegrain creating a four-leaf form; mounted in platinum.

Another important presence is the one of Hancocks, featuring three authentic marvels, the first one being an important Citrine Suite by Trabert & Hoeffer – Mauboussin:

Important Citrine Suite by Trabert & Hoeffer - Mauboussin. — Important Citrine Suite by Trabert & Hoeffer – Mauboussin.

This is an important suite of jewellery composed of a necklace of graduated rectangular-cut citrines terminating at a central point, with a removable brooch/pendant in the form of a tied ribbon, the bracelet with similar citrine ribbons surrounding a large claw set centre citrine.

Another sweet piece is this Art Deco Aquamarine Pendant, by Marzo, dated circa 1925:

Art Deco Aquamarine pendant, by Marzo, circa 1925.

A sleek and elegant. yet extremely modern aquamarine briolette pendant , set with diamonds, two fancy cut sapphires and decorated with fine bands of black enamel mounted in platinum.

Finally, Hancocks will also present an Art Deco Citrine and Diamond Cuff bracelet by Cartier, dated circa 1935, characterized by floral shaped detachable clip brooches:

Art Deco Citrine and Diamond Bracelet by Cartier, circa 1935.

Other highlights I would like to show you are included in the media gallery – enjoy, and if you happen to be in London, do not miss this important event! CC

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Post edited by Claudia Carletti, Jewellery Through Time. Material courtesy of Masterpiece London Press Area.