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A ring which once belonged to the late all-round entertainer Sammy Davis Jr will go under the hammer on August 24 at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham.
The ring, worn by ‘Mr Show Business’ at the White House among other places, features a yellow-brown 10.75ct diamond and was a favourite of Davis Jr’s – he wore it during his many performances around the world and at home in the USA.
In March of 1973, Davis Jr was invited to a White House reception which Nixon called An Evening with Sammy Davis Jr. This was a historic event, not only a marvellous performance from Davis Jr, but it was the first time that an African-American family was invited to spend the night at the White House.
Photos from the event show the ring on his little finger. He also wore it on his index finger during his tour of Europe in 1985. Videos of his performances clearly show it on his hand while on stage in Germany.
A photo album, including the images from the White House, which will also be sold with the lot features many of the singer wearing the ring.
Sammy Davis Jr “Mister Show Business” was known for his extravagant and flamboyant jewellery that perfectly embodied his larger-than-life persona. His jewellery collection became an iconic aspect of his image.
The brownish yellow 10.75ct diamond ring with GIA cert is entered into the auction with an estimate of £50,000–£70,000.
This is not the first time that this ring has gone under the hammer but more than two years have passed since this particular ring was last put up for auction, along with a remarkable collection of jewellery that had once belonged to the entertainer. However, this upcoming auction marks the first time that the ring will be sold alongside an extensive photo album showcasing numerous photos of Davis Jr. wearing the ring.
Lindsay Campbell, Jewellery Manager at Fellows said “I’m delighted to have such a piece of music history in our Fine Jewellery auction. When you think of the events where Sammy Davis Jr wore this ring, it is no wonder that this ring has attracted such a lot of attention. As well as being a beautiful ring with a stunning diamond set in it, the fact that it is being sold with the photo album means that it is a unique piece of memorabilia which I am sure will be highly coveted by music enthusiasts.”
