Bonhams New York Jewels sale is all about Hollywood glamour and art deco enchantment. On May 24, the auction house will offer pieces from the personal collections of three important figures: Hélène Irwin Crocker Fagan, Lady Sylvia Ashley, and Bette Midler.
“The New York Jewels sale is full of exceptional pieces including some with incredible provenance,” says Caroline Morrissey, Bonhams New York director and head of jewelry. “We are delighted to present three fabulous jewelry collections from American ladies: first, the incredible jewels of Hélène Irwin Crocker Fagan, an heiress from the art deco era who owned one of the finest Colombian emerald Cartier bracelets I have ever seen.”
“Second, the collection of Lady Ashley: a rags-to-riches story of a chorus girl who ended up marrying both Douglas Fairbanks and Clark Gable.”
“Third, jewelry from a living legend, the inimitable Bette Midler. Many of the pieces in this sale are on the market for the first time, and it is an incredible opportunity to buy a beautiful jewel with a famed and glamorous story behind it.”
Below is a closer look at some of the sale’s standout jewels—from Fagan’s Cartier bracelet, totaling over 100 cts. of emeralds and estimated to go for anywhere between $750,000 and $1,250,000, to Midler’s ornate Tiffany & Co. diamond and yellow sapphire brooch—while considering the women who wore them.
(Photos courtesy of Bonhams)
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