Christie’s Unveils Vintage Selection for Paris Sale

RAPAPORT… A necklace made in 1925 by Jean Fouquet will be the flagship item in a selection of vintage jewelry at an online sale by the French unit at Christie’s.

This piece is expected to fetch up to EUR 450,000 ($551,254) at the June 21 to July 5 sale, which will offer a range of 19th to early 20th century jewelry. The white gold and silver necklace is an example of jewelry influenced by the artistic movement of the French Union of Modern Artists of which the Fouquet family was a member, the auction house said.

Diamonds up for sale at the auction will include a 17.47-carat Boucheron antique cut with a high presale valuation of EUR 550,000 ($673,407). A 7.83-carat diamond pendant is likely to attract the attention of bidders, Christie’s said, estimating it at up to EUR 160,000 ($195,878).

Another prominent lot is a Dragonfly brooch by René Lalique, an exponent of Art Nouveau, with a high estimate of EUR 50,000 ($61,233).

“In 2019, collectors showed interest in these historic and poetic pieces, acquiring a necklace with such a dragonfly for EUR 72,500 ($88,781), and a magnificent gousset watch sold for EUR 93,500 ($114,497), tripling its initial estimate,” the company said.

A Jabot pin by Cartier set with Colombian emeralds and diamonds is an example of the Art Deco jewelry. Its upper valuation is EUR 40,000 ($49,002).

Included in the sale’s offering are vintage pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Bulgari, with the auction house’s French jewelry department providing online access to more than 270 lots.

Image: The Jean Fouquet necklace. (Christie’s)