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Jewels from Bette Midler Are Headed to Bonhams
The auction house’s upcoming sale also includes collections from American heiresses.
This Tiffany & Co. brooch with an 8.5-carat mixed-cut yellow sapphire and approximately 13.10 carats of white diamonds in 18-karat gold and platinum belonging to Bette Midler will be available at the upcoming Bonhams New York Jewels sale.
New York—Bonhams New York’s spring jewelry auction is filled with jewels with fascinating provenances.
The upcoming jewelry sale features more than a dozen pieces from multi-talented entertainer Bette Midler’s collection, to start.
Midler has four Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and nine American Comedy Awards to her name.
The star of films “The Rose,” “Beaches,” and “Hocus Pocus,” she’s also one of the bestselling female singers, with 30 million album sales.
Other highlights include a diamond and yellow sapphire feather brooch from Tiffany & Co., a pair of gold bubble bracelets by Demner, and a Cartier “La Dona” gold watch.
See the Bette Midler Jewels
The upcoming jewelry sale features more than a dozen pieces from multi-talented entertainer Bette Midler’s collection, to start.
Midler has four Grammy Awards, two Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and nine American Comedy Awards to her name.
The star of films “The Rose,” “Beaches,” and “Hocus Pocus,” she’s also one of the bestselling female singers, with 30 million album sales.
Other highlights include a diamond and yellow sapphire feather brooch from Tiffany & Co., a pair of gold bubble bracelets by Demner, and a Cartier “La Dona” gold watch.
See the Bette Midler Jewels
Tiffany & Co. brooch with an 8.5-carat mixed-cut yellow sapphire and approximately 13.10 carats of white diamonds in 18-karat gold and platinum ($40,000-$80,000)
A pair of gold bracelets by Demner, New York, composed of 18-karat gold and ruby ($20,000-$40,000)
Cartier “La Dona” wristwatch in gold with round brilliant-cut diamonds ($8,000-$12,000)
Leading the Bonhams New York Jewels sale, meanwhile, is a 101-carat Colombian emerald Art Deco bracelet by Cartier from the collection of Hélène Irwin Crocker Fagan (1887–1966), one of the richest American heiresses during the Belle Epoque and Art Deco periods.
She was the daughter of English businessman William G. Irwin, who amassed a fortune as a sugar baron in Hawaii.
Hélène married Templeton Crocker, who was the grandson of railroad magnate Charles Crocker, in 1911. A headline announcing their nuptials in the San Francisco Call read: “Crocker-Irwin Wedding Bells Clink of Gold: Vast Fortunes to be United at Altar.”
In addition to Hélène’s emerald bracelet, a collection of cigarette cases and objects, and a pearl and diamond aigrette by Cartier circa 1914 appear at the sale.
See the Hélène Irwin Crocker Fagan Collection
A rare emerald and diamond bracelet, Cartier circa 1926. It features 101 carats of emeralds as well as diamonds mounted in platinum. ($750,00-$1.25 million)
A Cartier diamond and natural pearl aigrette, New York, circa 1914. It features an 8.25-carat old European-cut diamond and two natural pearls with an additional 5.5 carats of diamonds mounted in platinum and steel. ($250,000-$450,000)
An 18-karat gold and enamel snuff box with French assay marks ($3,000-$4,000)
Lady Sylvia Ashley led a fascinating life reflected in her 60-piece collection presented at Bonhams.
She was nicknamed “Silky,” a reference to her beginnings as a chorus girl and lingerie model.
Ashley was married five times. Her husbands were two lords, one prince and two Hollywood Actors, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Clark Gable.
Her collection spans pieces from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels that she wore traveling the world meeting some of its most famous people. It includes a number of objects, like a gold Cartier vanity set, gold Cartier frames, and Van Cleef & Arpels clocks.
The most overtly sentimental jewel might be a gold heart charm with a photo of Fairbanks inside and a lock of brown hair.
See the Lady Sylvia Ashley Collection
She was nicknamed “Silky,” a reference to her beginnings as a chorus girl and lingerie model.
Ashley was married five times. Her husbands were two lords, one prince and two Hollywood Actors, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Clark Gable.
Her collection spans pieces from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels that she wore traveling the world meeting some of its most famous people. It includes a number of objects, like a gold Cartier vanity set, gold Cartier frames, and Van Cleef & Arpels clocks.
The most overtly sentimental jewel might be a gold heart charm with a photo of Fairbanks inside and a lock of brown hair.
See the Lady Sylvia Ashley Collection
Gold locket circa 1950 in 14-karat gold with photo and hair ($500-$700)
A Van Cleef & Arpels “Inseparables” desk clock, New York, circa 1940 with emeralds, diamonds, and rubies mounted in 18-karat gold. ($7,000-$9,000)
A Cartier diamond, chalcedony, and mother-of-pearl minaudiere in 18-karat gold and platinum, France, circa 1930. ($7,000-$9,000)
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