The first Cheffins Jewellery, Silver and Watches Sale of 2023 will take place on the 6th April at the firm’s salerooms in Cambridge.
Amongst the jewellery section, there is a wide range of collectable antique and modern jewellery, with highlights including a string of certificated natural saltwater pearls with a diamond set clasp, which has an estimate of £10,000 - £15,000; a Burmese ruby and diamond cluster ring with an estimate of £10,000 - £12,000 and a contemporary ruby and diamond ring with an estimate of £8,000 - £10,000, together with examples from famous names such as Tiffany and Kutchinsky.
Lot 255 - A string of natural saltwater pearls - estimate £10,000 - £15,000
The silver and objets de vertu section is dominated by the Barry Lock collection. A prolific collector, Barry Lock was a senior lawyer at Clifford Chance and personal solicitor to Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, Nobel prize winner for Chemistry. From his apartment in Westminster comes a large selection of fine silver and objets, with the most noteworthy lot being a George III large silver gilt cup and cover by William Burwash, dated 1818, presented to William Scholes Withington by the civic authorities in Manchester for fulfilling his civic duties during what is now known as the infamous ‘Peterloo Massacre’ in 1819. The cup has an estimate of £4,000 - £6,000. There is also a pair of Victorian silver domed vegetable dish covers with the arms of Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the Cypher of HRH Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Duchess of Cambridge and also a water jug and bowl which were previously owned by Harriet Mellon (1777 – 1837) Duchess of St Albans, with later the monogram for the philanthropist Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett- Coutts (1814 – 1906).
Lot 515 - George III silver gilt two handled presentation cup and cover, estimate £4,000 - £6,000
The watch section sees a number of antique and modern examples, including a large array of pocket watches. Highlights of the section include a 1920’s ultra slim 18ct gold pocket watch by Cartier with an estimate of £1,500 - £2,500, a Rolex 18ct gold diamond set ‘Oyster Perpetual Datejust’ wristwatch with an estimate of £3,000 - £5,000 and a 1966 vintage Omega ‘Seamaster 300’ which has an estimate of £2,000 - £4,000. Similarly, a Piaget 18ct gold wristwatch is set to make between £1,000 - £1,500, while a Morago emerald and diamond set cocktail watch has an estimate of £600 - £800.
Steven Collins, Head of Jewellery, Silver & Watches at Cheffins comments: “Barry Lock was an extraordinary collector, he had a fabulous eye for quality, historic silver and collectable pieces and clearly only bought the best in class from across the country. We will be offering over 100 lots from his collection which we are sure will bring great interest to the sale around the world from both the trade and private buyers. There is also a strong selection of jewellery, with a number of quality antique and modern pieces. However, there is also something for all budgets, with estimates ranging from £60 to £10,000.”
The Jewellery, Silver, Watches Sale – 6th April 2023
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk