London auction house Noonans held its “Jewellery, Watches, Silver, and Objects of Vertu” sale last week, which included jewelry belonging to the late Lady Wardington, like this diamond-clip brooch that converts into a pair of earrings. (Images courtesy of Noonans)
The collection, which included jewelry, evening bags, and writing instruments, garnered a total of £121,240 ($161,721), with 28 of the 30 lots sold.
The top lot was a mid-20th century gold and diamond-set evening bag, which sold for £28,000 ($37,000) against its pre-sale estimate of £15,000 to £20,000 ($20,300 to $27,100).
These two gold evening bags were the top lots of Lady Wardington’s collection.
The No. 2 lot was a similar gold purse, which sold for £22,000 ($29,300) against an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000 ($13,500 to $20,300).
“It has been our privilege to offer for sale the Collection of Lady Wardington, and we were delighted to have achieved such strong results for her family,” said Frances Noble, head of the jewelry department at Noonans.
This diamond and gemstone-set pendant can be flipped and worn as a brooch. It sold for $20,000 to a buyer in London.
A gem-set cluster brooch-pendant, said to be one of the most striking pieces in the collection, sold for £15,000 ($20,000) to a London buyer, against a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000 ($5,400 to $8,100).
The pear-shaped cluster is set with cushion-shaped yellow and blue sapphires, emeralds, aquamarines, and rubies, with old brilliant-cut diamond accents.
A diamond and platinum geometric bracelet, circa 1950, from the collection of the late Lady Wardington
A diamond and platinum geometric bracelet, circa 1950, set with 28 carats of diamonds, sold for £15,000 ($20,300), in line with its pre-sale estimate of £15,000 to £20,000 ($20,300 to $27,100).
The bracelet comes in a case from Searle & Co. Ltd, Jewellers & Silversmiths.
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A diamond double-clip brooch, circa 1950, sold for £6,000 ($8,000), above its pre-sale estimate of £4,000 to £6,000 ($5,400 to $8,100).
A diamond double-clip brooch, circa 1950, that can be converted into a pair of earrings
The brooch features a flowerhead and ribbon design and set with 5.50 carats of brilliant-, single-, and baguette-cut diamonds, and transforms into a pair of earrings when the clips are detached. It’s in a case from Thomas Wordley Ltd.
A pair of Colombian emerald earrings and an agate bracelet were the two lots that did not find buyers.
Lady Wardington’s collection, sold by her direct descendants, was part of Noonans’ “Jewellery, Watches, Silver, and Objects of Vertu” sale held on March 10.
Born Margaret Audrey White in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1927, she was the only child of a travelling salesman, raised in North London by her mother.
From humble beginnings, she would go on to be a high-profile model and a fashion editor.
She notably was turned down for a job at the BBC for being “too sophisticated and severely beautiful” for the role, with executives worried she might alarm the “timid men from Wigan and country districts.”
In 1964, White married Christopher Henry Beaumont “Bic” Pease, 2nd Lord Wardington, a partner at brokerage firm Hoare Govett.
She was also an author and an advocate for women gaining financial independence.
Lady Wardington died in November 2014 at age 87.
“This varied collection offers a snapshot of the jewels worn by one of society’s most glamorous and beautiful women of the mid-20th century,” said Noonans.
