369
An 18ct electrum gold sapphire and niello parure by Louis Osman, 1985, comprising an...
1/8
Your max bid
GBP
Place Bid
Auctioneer's estimate
15,000 GBP - 20,000 GBP
Additional fees apply
34.74% Inc.VAT/sales tax
Add to watch list
Watching
(5 watching)
Please confirm your bid
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Confirm bid removal
Your bid is off increment
Choose one of the quick bid options below:
Bids do not include VAT, buyer’s premium or delivery.
By confirming your bid, you agree that you have read and accepted the-saleroom.com and the auctioneer's terms and conditions. Confirming your bid is a legally binding obligation to purchase and pay for the lot should your bid be successful.
Description
An 18ct electrum gold sapphire and niello parure by Louis Osman, 1985, comprising an articulated collar necklace, bracelet, pair of pendant earrings and ring, each of hand drawn rectangular openwork links with linear niello detail, each link centred with a rectangular step-cut sapphire, the necklace, bracelet and earrings bearing partial London hallmarks for 1985 and sponsor’s mark ‘LAO’ for the London Assay Office, in wooden case, necklace length 40cm, ring size P. £15,000-£20,000
Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).
---
During the early 1980s, Maurice Jenkins resumed buying sapphires for his wife during his trips to Australia, continuing to purchase from the Perth jewellers Mazzucchelli’s.
For this suite Mr & Mrs Jenkins asked Louis to design delicate settings, where light would ‘shine through’ the sapphires. Louis satisfied this wish, enhancing the suite through the use of electrum and niello.
In a letter to Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this necklace Louis wrote:
“I promised to explain NIELLO to you. […] BLACK is not an accurate description, its a very subtle dark blue grey with a very individual metallic sheen. Examples are:
Ring of Queen Ethelswith of Mercia, sister of Alfred the Great, gold with Niello inlay : English mid 9th Century : British Museum.
Ring of King Ethelwulf of Wessex : gold with Niello inlay: English late 9th Century. British Museum.
English 13th Century Ring Brooch with closed designs : gold inlaid with Niello & decorated with precious stones : British Museum.” (1984).
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with other trace metals. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between 20–80% gold and 80–20% silver. Its colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. The necklace in this suite has been tested using an XRF Analyzer and comprises 78.8% gold, 20.7% silver and 0.41% copper - this composition accounts for the pale colour of the metal.
The suite is constructed of hand drawn wires - an invoice survives from H. Brittain Ltd for the supply of a draw plate for “three stage reduction grooved rectangular section wire” (2 May 1985). In a caveat to his quote to Mrs Jenkins for this suite, Louis says: “but there are 800 cut united & fitted joints to be made and half an hour extra on each can make a lot of difference.” (22 June 1984).
Exhibited:
Louis Osman Jewellery Exhibition, by The British Council of Arts, in Lisbon, 14 November - 11 December 1990. The reverse of the case bears a sticker for this exhibition. Paperwork related to this exhibition, including details of this piece can be viewed at the Tate Archive, London (ref: TGA 200317/4/12).
In Celebration of Gold and Silver: An exhibition of exquisite jewellery and magnificent silver made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a Goldsmiths’ Company exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, May - July 2002, exhibition catalogue no. 96, (part illustrated).
An original pen and watercolour design for this suite was sold as part of The Personal Archive of Louis Osman at Noonans on 27 March 2018 (lot 291).
This lot is accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
This lot is also accompanied by further related correspondence.
Condition Report
This lot is accompanied by hand written correspondence between Louis Osman and Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this suite:
A letter explaining niello, including examples of its use.
A letter which accompanied preliminary designs for the suite (not included) which were sent for approval, prior to a formal quote, dated 22 June 1984.
A quote for the suite, dated 11 July 1984.
A letter discussing offering for sale the design drawings for this and other suites, dated 3 December 1984.
A letter regarding collection of the finished pieces, dated 24 June 1985.
A letter apologising for not explaining that the quote was exclusive of VAT, dated 6 August 1985.
A hand written insurance valuation from the Osman Studios Ltd., dated November 1985.
Also included are:
An invoice from Johnson Matthey Jewellery Products to Osman Studios for Britannia sheet silver, 11.5kg, annotated ‘for Dorothy’.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for a draw plate for rectangular wire, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated May 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for ‘plates to drawing’, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for embossing punches for stone mounts, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from Engelhard Sheffield Smelting Company to Osman Studios, for fine gold, 64gm, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated July 1985.
This lot is also accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).
---
During the early 1980s, Maurice Jenkins resumed buying sapphires for his wife during his trips to Australia, continuing to purchase from the Perth jewellers Mazzucchelli’s.
For this suite Mr & Mrs Jenkins asked Louis to design delicate settings, where light would ‘shine through’ the sapphires. Louis satisfied this wish, enhancing the suite through the use of electrum and niello.
In a letter to Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this necklace Louis wrote:
“I promised to explain NIELLO to you. […] BLACK is not an accurate description, its a very subtle dark blue grey with a very individual metallic sheen. Examples are:
Ring of Queen Ethelswith of Mercia, sister of Alfred the Great, gold with Niello inlay : English mid 9th Century : British Museum.
Ring of King Ethelwulf of Wessex : gold with Niello inlay: English late 9th Century. British Museum.
English 13th Century Ring Brooch with closed designs : gold inlaid with Niello & decorated with precious stones : British Museum.” (1984).
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with other trace metals. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between 20–80% gold and 80–20% silver. Its colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. The necklace in this suite has been tested using an XRF Analyzer and comprises 78.8% gold, 20.7% silver and 0.41% copper - this composition accounts for the pale colour of the metal.
The suite is constructed of hand drawn wires - an invoice survives from H. Brittain Ltd for the supply of a draw plate for “three stage reduction grooved rectangular section wire” (2 May 1985). In a caveat to his quote to Mrs Jenkins for this suite, Louis says: “but there are 800 cut united & fitted joints to be made and half an hour extra on each can make a lot of difference.” (22 June 1984).
Exhibited:
Louis Osman Jewellery Exhibition, by The British Council of Arts, in Lisbon, 14 November - 11 December 1990. The reverse of the case bears a sticker for this exhibition. Paperwork related to this exhibition, including details of this piece can be viewed at the Tate Archive, London (ref: TGA 200317/4/12).
In Celebration of Gold and Silver: An exhibition of exquisite jewellery and magnificent silver made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a Goldsmiths’ Company exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, May - July 2002, exhibition catalogue no. 96, (part illustrated).
An original pen and watercolour design for this suite was sold as part of The Personal Archive of Louis Osman at Noonans on 27 March 2018 (lot 291).
This lot is accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
This lot is also accompanied by further related correspondence.
Condition Report
This lot is accompanied by hand written correspondence between Louis Osman and Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this suite:
A letter explaining niello, including examples of its use.
A letter which accompanied preliminary designs for the suite (not included) which were sent for approval, prior to a formal quote, dated 22 June 1984.
A quote for the suite, dated 11 July 1984.
A letter discussing offering for sale the design drawings for this and other suites, dated 3 December 1984.
A letter regarding collection of the finished pieces, dated 24 June 1985.
A letter apologising for not explaining that the quote was exclusive of VAT, dated 6 August 1985.
A hand written insurance valuation from the Osman Studios Ltd., dated November 1985.
Also included are:
An invoice from Johnson Matthey Jewellery Products to Osman Studios for Britannia sheet silver, 11.5kg, annotated ‘for Dorothy’.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for a draw plate for rectangular wire, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated May 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for ‘plates to drawing’, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for embossing punches for stone mounts, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from Engelhard Sheffield Smelting Company to Osman Studios, for fine gold, 64gm, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated July 1985.
This lot is also accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
An 18ct electrum gold sapphire and niello parure by Louis Osman, 1985, comprising an articulated collar necklace, bracelet, pair of pendant earrings and ring, each of hand drawn rectangular openwork links with linear niello detail, each link centred with a rectangular step-cut sapphire, the necklace, bracelet and earrings bearing partial London hallmarks for 1985 and sponsor’s mark ‘LAO’ for the London Assay Office, in wooden case, necklace length 40cm, ring size P. £15,000-£20,000
Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).
---
During the early 1980s, Maurice Jenkins resumed buying sapphires for his wife during his trips to Australia, continuing to purchase from the Perth jewellers Mazzucchelli’s.
For this suite Mr & Mrs Jenkins asked Louis to design delicate settings, where light would ‘shine through’ the sapphires. Louis satisfied this wish, enhancing the suite through the use of electrum and niello.
In a letter to Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this necklace Louis wrote:
“I promised to explain NIELLO to you. […] BLACK is not an accurate description, its a very subtle dark blue grey with a very individual metallic sheen. Examples are:
Ring of Queen Ethelswith of Mercia, sister of Alfred the Great, gold with Niello inlay : English mid 9th Century : British Museum.
Ring of King Ethelwulf of Wessex : gold with Niello inlay: English late 9th Century. British Museum.
English 13th Century Ring Brooch with closed designs : gold inlaid with Niello & decorated with precious stones : British Museum.” (1984).
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with other trace metals. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between 20–80% gold and 80–20% silver. Its colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. The necklace in this suite has been tested using an XRF Analyzer and comprises 78.8% gold, 20.7% silver and 0.41% copper - this composition accounts for the pale colour of the metal.
The suite is constructed of hand drawn wires - an invoice survives from H. Brittain Ltd for the supply of a draw plate for “three stage reduction grooved rectangular section wire” (2 May 1985). In a caveat to his quote to Mrs Jenkins for this suite, Louis says: “but there are 800 cut united & fitted joints to be made and half an hour extra on each can make a lot of difference.” (22 June 1984).
Exhibited:
Louis Osman Jewellery Exhibition, by The British Council of Arts, in Lisbon, 14 November - 11 December 1990. The reverse of the case bears a sticker for this exhibition. Paperwork related to this exhibition, including details of this piece can be viewed at the Tate Archive, London (ref: TGA 200317/4/12).
In Celebration of Gold and Silver: An exhibition of exquisite jewellery and magnificent silver made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a Goldsmiths’ Company exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, May - July 2002, exhibition catalogue no. 96, (part illustrated).
An original pen and watercolour design for this suite was sold as part of The Personal Archive of Louis Osman at Noonans on 27 March 2018 (lot 291).
This lot is accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
This lot is also accompanied by further related correspondence.
Condition Report
This lot is accompanied by hand written correspondence between Louis Osman and Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this suite:
A letter explaining niello, including examples of its use.
A letter which accompanied preliminary designs for the suite (not included) which were sent for approval, prior to a formal quote, dated 22 June 1984.
A quote for the suite, dated 11 July 1984.
A letter discussing offering for sale the design drawings for this and other suites, dated 3 December 1984.
A letter regarding collection of the finished pieces, dated 24 June 1985.
A letter apologising for not explaining that the quote was exclusive of VAT, dated 6 August 1985.
A hand written insurance valuation from the Osman Studios Ltd., dated November 1985.
Also included are:
An invoice from Johnson Matthey Jewellery Products to Osman Studios for Britannia sheet silver, 11.5kg, annotated ‘for Dorothy’.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for a draw plate for rectangular wire, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated May 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for ‘plates to drawing’, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for embossing punches for stone mounts, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from Engelhard Sheffield Smelting Company to Osman Studios, for fine gold, 64gm, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated July 1985.
This lot is also accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).
---
During the early 1980s, Maurice Jenkins resumed buying sapphires for his wife during his trips to Australia, continuing to purchase from the Perth jewellers Mazzucchelli’s.
For this suite Mr & Mrs Jenkins asked Louis to design delicate settings, where light would ‘shine through’ the sapphires. Louis satisfied this wish, enhancing the suite through the use of electrum and niello.
In a letter to Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this necklace Louis wrote:
“I promised to explain NIELLO to you. […] BLACK is not an accurate description, its a very subtle dark blue grey with a very individual metallic sheen. Examples are:
Ring of Queen Ethelswith of Mercia, sister of Alfred the Great, gold with Niello inlay : English mid 9th Century : British Museum.
Ring of King Ethelwulf of Wessex : gold with Niello inlay: English late 9th Century. British Museum.
English 13th Century Ring Brooch with closed designs : gold inlaid with Niello & decorated with precious stones : British Museum.” (1984).
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with other trace metals. The name is mostly applied informally to compositions between 20–80% gold and 80–20% silver. Its colour ranges from pale to bright yellow, depending on the proportions of gold and silver. The necklace in this suite has been tested using an XRF Analyzer and comprises 78.8% gold, 20.7% silver and 0.41% copper - this composition accounts for the pale colour of the metal.
The suite is constructed of hand drawn wires - an invoice survives from H. Brittain Ltd for the supply of a draw plate for “three stage reduction grooved rectangular section wire” (2 May 1985). In a caveat to his quote to Mrs Jenkins for this suite, Louis says: “but there are 800 cut united & fitted joints to be made and half an hour extra on each can make a lot of difference.” (22 June 1984).
Exhibited:
Louis Osman Jewellery Exhibition, by The British Council of Arts, in Lisbon, 14 November - 11 December 1990. The reverse of the case bears a sticker for this exhibition. Paperwork related to this exhibition, including details of this piece can be viewed at the Tate Archive, London (ref: TGA 200317/4/12).
In Celebration of Gold and Silver: An exhibition of exquisite jewellery and magnificent silver made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a Goldsmiths’ Company exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, May - July 2002, exhibition catalogue no. 96, (part illustrated).
An original pen and watercolour design for this suite was sold as part of The Personal Archive of Louis Osman at Noonans on 27 March 2018 (lot 291).
This lot is accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
This lot is also accompanied by further related correspondence.
Condition Report
This lot is accompanied by hand written correspondence between Louis Osman and Mrs Jenkins regarding the commission of this suite:
A letter explaining niello, including examples of its use.
A letter which accompanied preliminary designs for the suite (not included) which were sent for approval, prior to a formal quote, dated 22 June 1984.
A quote for the suite, dated 11 July 1984.
A letter discussing offering for sale the design drawings for this and other suites, dated 3 December 1984.
A letter regarding collection of the finished pieces, dated 24 June 1985.
A letter apologising for not explaining that the quote was exclusive of VAT, dated 6 August 1985.
A hand written insurance valuation from the Osman Studios Ltd., dated November 1985.
Also included are:
An invoice from Johnson Matthey Jewellery Products to Osman Studios for Britannia sheet silver, 11.5kg, annotated ‘for Dorothy’.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for a draw plate for rectangular wire, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated May 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for ‘plates to drawing’, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from H. Brittain Ltd. to Osman Studios for embossing punches for stone mounts, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated June 1985.
An invoice from Engelhard Sheffield Smelting Company to Osman Studios, for fine gold, 64gm, annotated ‘for Dorothy’, dated July 1985.
This lot is also accompanied by a catalogue for the exhibition: In Celebration of Gold and Silver, together with photocopies of related paperwork and press cuttings and an original leaflet relating to the Louis Osman Jewellery, Lisbon exhibition.
Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
16 Bolton Street
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Auctioneer's Buyers Premium: 24% (+VAT)
There is an additional charge of 4.95% (+VAT/sales tax)
