This 2½in (6.5cm) gold and reverse painted rock crystal pendant, c.1880, depicts a Japanese figure in traditional dress within a gold frame designed as bamboo rods tied with twine.
Housed in an original fitted box for Tiffany & Co of Union Square, New York, it sold for $15,000 (£11,540), treble the top estimate at the sale held by Skinner (25% buyer’s premium) in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on June 23.
Lunar surface
Gold and ruby brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels depicting the surface of the Moon – $12,000 (£9230) at Skinner.
Another popular lot in this online-only offering was a gold and ruby brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels depicting the surface of the Moon.
The single cabochon stone represents the Apollo 11 landing site at The Sea of Tranquility while the reverse is engraved with the signatures of the three lunar astronauts – Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins – and the date 20 Juillet 1969.
Armstrong’s wife wore one of these on the 38-day ‘Giant Leap’ goodwill tour of more than 30 countries: it was sold last year by New Orleans dealership MS Rau for something in the region of $150,000.
Offered in its original box, this one took $12,000 (£9230).
