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Agatha Christie's Jewels Far Exceed Presale Estimates at Bonhams
Oct 8, 2014 11:39 AM
By Jeff Miller
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RAPAPORT... Bonhams auctioned two jewels from Agatha Christie that far surpassed their presale estimate. The jewelry sale in Knightsbridge was packed with bidders in the room, on the telephones and online competing for the famed author's diamond brooch and a three-stone diamond ring. The ring sold for $35,190, well above the presale estimate of between $4,800 and $8,000. The diamond brooch fetched $44,239 against a presale estimate of between $9,650 and $12,870 .
The two jewels, which had been mentioned in Christie's autobiography as family heirlooms, were thought to have been lost. Eight years ago, an avid fan paid $160 (GBP 100) for an old travel trunk at the author's estate sale. It turned out that a locked strongbox inside the trunk contained the gems.
Carole Gordon, the head of jewelry at Bonhams Knightsbridge, said, “We are very pleased to have been able to offer these two fine pieces, coming as they do not only with an illustrious provenance but with such a wonderful story of discovery by the vendor. The astonishing prices achieved today are just the icing on the cake.”
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Tags:
Agatha Christie, auction, bonhams, Jeff Miller, Jewelry
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