Mumbai-based auction house AstaGuru will conduct ‘Heirloom Jewellery, Silver & Timepieces’ online auction on May 20 and 21, 2021. The auction will feature 120 lots that include fine heirloom and vintage jewelry, silver articles and watches.
These pieces are fine examples of rich craftsmanship and design traditions from Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The collection includes traditional Indian masterpieces to Art-Deco period jewellery of high-grade diamonds, Basra pearls, Colombian and Zambian emeralds and Burmese rubies.
Diamond necklace that is a convertible tiara, studded with diamonds (1940)
Pieces like a 1940 necklace that converts into a tiara, a 1940 vintage European necklace that’s studded with diamonds and rubies and a 1990 Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse wristwatch look absolutely stunning.
The auction also presents several signed pieces by Piaget, Tiffany & Co., Collingwood Jewellers Ltd. London, and celebrated Indian jewellery houses such as Gazdar Jewellers, Narotamdas Bhau and Manilal Chimanlal & Co. Bombay. Timepieces from brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Piaget, Panerai, Rolex, Ulysse Nardin, Breguet, Frank Muller and Roger Dubuis are also up for bid.
Check these amazing items from the wide range.
Two-row Basra pearl necklace (1940) & four-row Basra pearl necklace (1950)
Two row Basra pearl necklace (1940)
In the jewellery segment, this necklace is expected to fetch the highest price in the auction. An impressive two-row Basra pearl necklace (lot 47), which was made in 1940, has 107 finely matched and graduated Basra pearls, each interspaced with seed pearls. The necklace is secured with a white gold clasp set with round cut diamonds. It is a time-consuming process to collate a well-matched collection of Basra pearls that enhances the shape, lustre, and colour. This makes such necklaces extremely valuable and collectors’ favourite.
Four row Basra pearl necklace (1950)
This auction offers not one, but two such beautifully assembled pieces. Lot 41 is a classy piece of four-row Basra pearl necklace from 1950, which has 367 Basra pearls. It has a gold clasp set with old cut diamonds and an emerald.
These coveted Basra pearls originate from the Persian Gulf in the Middle East and have been highly prized over the past centuries owing to their purity, spherical shape and unparalleled iridescence.
Estimated bid for the two-row Basra pearl necklace: Up to Rs1.50 crore (approximately) Estimated bid for the four-row Basra pearl necklace:Up to Rs1.30 crore (approximately)
Two-Row Zambian Emerald Bead Necklace
Lot 21 is a beautiful two-row Zambian emerald bead necklace that features 117 graduated Zambian emerald beads strung together on a chedia. The incorporated tumble bead emeralds have a perfect saturation of green and showcase a regal lustre, adding to the magnificence of this piece.
Estimated bid:Up to Rs1 crore (approximately)
A pair of large emerald and diamond ear pendants (1960)
Lot 33 is a beautiful pair of earrings that was made in 1960. These striking ear pendants have a pair of large Colombian emerald drops and cabochons, spaced with a pair of old European cut cushion-shaped diamonds.
Estimated bid: Up to Rs1 crore (approximately)
Colonial Indian silver tea & coffee service originally from the Collection of the Bushby family, county of Hertfordshire
Lot 72 is a colonial Indian silver tea & coffee service that originally belonged to the Bushby Family from the county of Hertfordshire in 1850. Members of the Bushby family were associated with the East India Company and frequented India.
The intricate carvings on the set
This 5-piece set weighs 8.129 kgs and includes a kettle on a stand, teapot, coffee pot, gold gilt creamer and a gold gilt open sugar bowl. These stunning articles are engraved with a heraldic crest and each piece carries intricate carvings that depict hunting scenes with floral design patterns, which are typical to the Kutch region.
Estimated bid:Up to Rs18 lakh (approximately)
Silver flatware service fitted in two wooden boxes by Christofle Paris (1930)
All items in this silver flatware service fitted in two wooden boxes by Christofle Paris have been signed by the maker. This lot 64 comprises 256 items and carries a gross weight of 19 kgs. The items include 28 dessert forks, 18 dinner forks, 26 salad forks, 18 dessert knives, 18 fish knives, 36 table knives, 18 coffee spoons, 18 soup spoons, 18 dessert spoons, 17 tea spoons, 8 small serving spoons, 5 large serving spoons, 3 small ladles, 3 large ladles, 8 small serving forks, 2 carving knives, 2 carving forks, 3 large serving forks, 4 tongs and 3 cake/fish slicers.
Christofle is a goldsmith and tableware company founded in Paris in 1830 by Charles Christofle and is a successful company that still manufactures beautiful flatware and other products as part of its offering.
Estimated bid:Up to Rs18 lakh (approximately)
Hallmarked Silver Tea & Coffee Service (1930)
With a total gross weight of 10.118 kgs, lot 57 features a beautiful set that has 16 figurines cast in silver, deftly executed classical figurative motifs that are crafted on the handles and finials of the objects. The set includes a tray, kettle on stand, teapot, coffee pot, creamer and two sugar bowls.
A figurative motif on the tray handle
Estimated bid: Up to Rs19.70 lakh (approximately)
Hublot’s limited edition king power carbon fibre semi-skeletonised minute repeating single button chronograph Tourbillon wristwatch (2011)
Leading the timepieces segment is this piece crafted by Hublot, which was made in 2011. This rare timepiece is the 9th from a limited-edition of 20 units that features a highly complicated automatic mechanism. It has an alarm and a minute repeating single button
chronograph tourbillon, which is extremely difficult to achieve in a wristwatch.
It took 24 watchmakers around six months to craft the mechanism and approximately two years to assemble this watch.
This stunning creation is a rare piece to acquire, which is completely adorned with diamonds. It features Piaget’s 690P quartz movement, an inverted tonneau-shaped case in 18k white gold with a total of 980 diamonds (10.10 cts approximately) covering the entire piece.
