On Wednesday 22 June Christie’s will be offering the private collection of the late Joan River’s at auction in New York. In the introduction to the catalogue, Christie’s Robbie Gordy describes her residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, as a ‘jewel box of grace and formality’. He concludes, ‘Her collection of fine and decorative art is the embodiment of a lifetime’s pursuit of excellence, an elegant assemblage that perfectly reflects her captivating legacy.’
The Collection includes what Helen Culver Smith, Head of Russian Works of Art department at Christie’s, describes as, a collection of antique Fabergé with a strong exhibition history, ‘that represents the superb craftsmanship that made the firm renowned.’ There are just 22 pieces, but they prove that Miss Rivers had a keen eye for quality.
One of the six photograph frames was a gift from Britain’s Queen Victoria to Queen Louise of Denmark. However, in terms of rarity and importance, the Collection is led by a jewelled, gold-mounted Fabergé lily of the valley leaf (above, front row, far right). It relates to a number of lily of the valley studies by Fabergé with Imperial provenance, but is apparently one of only two known leaf studies.
‘Fresh bouquets of flowers were of great importance to court culture in late 19th-century St Petersburg, and lilies of the valley were the favourite flowers of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna,’ says Culver Smith. The genius of Fabergé can be seen in the use of pearls set with delicate rose-cut diamonds to form the flower heads, and in the elegant carving of the nephrite leaf, which curls over at its edges. The artistry of the piece is enhanced by the fact that its original design is known. It is estimated at $200,000-300,000.
The Collection includes some masterpieces of Fabergé jewellery. The lead here is an impressive star sapphire and diamond pendant brooch. ‘The size and depth of the sapphire and the way in which Fabergé’s workmaster, August Holmström, has showcased it in a sympathetic diamond surround are breathtaking,’ remarks Culver Smith. It was once in the collection of the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia (1847 -1909), whose passion for jewels was legendary. (Estimate: $70,000-90,000)
However, the chalcedony and diamond brooch in its original box at the centre of the front row in the above picture caught the eye of John Andrew. A founding member of the Fabergé Heritage Council, this was in his collection from 1990-99. ‘I knew it was later acquired by Joan Rivers’, he said, ‘as it was lent by Joan and Melissa Rivers for the exhibition Fabergé and the Russian Jewellers staged at Wartski in May 2006.’
Our review of the sale will reveal what it realised at Christie’s in New York in April 1990 and what he subsequently paid for it a few weeks later – as well as the price it sold for on 22 June 2016.
To view the catalogue, click here:
Fabergé collections are available online or in the international boutiques.
