Offered in the west London saleroom with an appealing estimate of £12,000-15,000, an array of 13 different phones as well as online bidders sent it to £120,000 (£150,000 including premium).
Specialist Sarah Duncan described the brooch as “a wonderful example of the influence Indian art had on the jewellery being created by Cartier. The family history, compounded by the fact that this piece has never before been on the open market, made it very desirable to our international bidders.”
The brooch was formerly owned by the New York socialite Augusta McCagg (1895-1965), who was related to some of the most prominent families in America including the Kings, the Fishes, the Browns and the Vanderbilts. She split her time between Newport, Rhode Island and New York City.
McCagg never married and the brooch had passed down together with a dozen other pieces through the family, now based in the UK.
Ramshaw ring towers
A gold and diamond ring and brass ring tower by Wendy Ramshaw – £2600 at Chiswick Auctions.
Also of note at the on May 28 sale was a private London collection from a personal friend of jewellery designer Wendy Ramshaw (1939-2018).
Highlights included two of Ramshaw’s well-known ring towers, one hallmarked 1986 made of 18ct gold and diamonds which sold for a hammer price of £2600, the other of silver and moonstone from 1969 which took £1700 from an online bidder.
