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Jewellery collectors old and new will be offered a unique opportunity to bid for a meticulous collection of antique jewellery in a sale from the estate of collector and antiques dealer Jean Louis Chameroy (1946-2020). Presented by Woolley & Wallis on October 24 at their Salisbury salerooms, the auction of over 200 lots, without reserve, offers buyers the chance to purchase items from the personal collection of Jean Louis Chameroy, a true connoisseur and expert in Victorian and Georgian jewellery.
Gorgeous diamond and precious stone brooches from the 18th and 19th centuries, including one naturalistically designed as a spray of strawberries; amethyst and topaz necklaces and ‘rings of the heavens’ are among the exquisite items discovered in Chameroy’s collection, painstakingly assembled over decades bolstered by his experience in the jewellery trade. The assemblage of rare and beautiful jewels from the Georgian and Victorian eras are a testament to Chameroy’s extraordinary depths of scholarship and taste.
Stunning bagues au firmament “rings of the heavens” will be on offer, so called because of the deep blue glass intended to evoke the night sky and the diamonds, the stars. There is also a rare Fabergé quartz and diamond scent bottle and some spectacular jewels showcasing the unsurpassed goldwork of the 1830s.
Marielle Whiting, jewellery specialist at Woolley & Wallis, said: “We are excited to be presenting this single owner, no reserve sale from the remarkable collection of Jean Louis Chameroy for the first and only time. It is rare for a collection of this significance, quality and condition to come up at auction, so we expect the sale to generate a great deal of interest from museums and collectors alike, as well as the burgeoning and younger collectors of today.”
Woolley & Wallis’ jewellery department continues to lead the field in fine jewellery sales outside London with outstanding prices recently achieved for jewellery of all types including diamonds and antique jewellery with a pair of natural pearl drop earrings recently selling for £1.6 million.
Other highlights in the sale include a superb collection of 18th century mourning rings and an intriguing shakudo (a Japanese term for a low gold content alloy) ring by Alexis Falize.
Chameroy’s passion for historic jewellery is reflected with a large collection of 18th and 19th-century cut steel and Victorian hairwork jewels, tortoiseshell piqué work and Georgian paste shoe buckles, as well as excellent examples of mid 18th century ‘Queen Anne’ paste (hand-cut glass that has been polished with metal powder until it shimmers like a gemstone).
