Western Morning News (Saturday)
Prepare to be dazzled by jewellery
AFTER another hugely successful Cornish & Fine Art Sale was held at the beginning of the month, David Lay Auctions will be rounding off August with a Jewellery, Watches, Luxury Fashion & Accessories sale on the 25th.
The star lot in the Art Sale, a large portrait of the Lamorna artist Robert Morson Hughes by his friend and neighbour Harold Knight, sold for a staggering £46,000 after a fierce bidding war in the saleroom. Lay’s next Art Sale in November already has some exciting consignments, including a work by the highly collected St Ives naive artist Alfred Wallis, so watch this space, and get in touch with Lay’s if you’d like to consign paintings. There are plenty of treasures to excite collectors and fashionistas. Quality watches have become key investments and the star lot in the sale, a rare Rolex Explorer Perpetual Mark 1 with a wonderful history and an estimate of £15,00018,000 will certainly draw the attention of the top buyers. It was owned by a Mr L H Watson, MC, FIA. In the Second World War he joined the Gurkhas where he was promoted to Major and won the Military Cross. He only wore the watch on special occasions so it is in excellent condition.
Not forgetting that diamonds are always a girl’s best friend, there are a wealth of bobby dazzlers in the sale. Lot 9 is an impressive light yellow diamond solitaire, of an eye-popping 4.8 carats. With an £12,000-15,000 estimate, it really is something special.
There is an excellent collection of Chanel, both jewellery and handbags, but if modern luxury is not your bag, then there are some charming pieces of jewellery in the Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau styles, and lot 14, a Georgian diamond-set navette ring is a beautiful, classical piece. The 426-lot sale can be viewed in in person at David Lay’s Penzance saleroom on Saturday, August 20, 9am-1pm and August 22 to 24, 9am-1pm, or alternatively, view the online catalogue at www.davidlay.co.uk.