Lawrences’ recent auction of jewellery in Crewkerne was another great success with scores of bids ensuring that many lots found new owners at prices above the auctioneers’ expectations. A small group of paste set buttons and buckles caught buyers’ eyes and were bought for £1400 and some lots containing amber beads also sold well with one necklace exceeding £1130. However, the top price for amber was paid for an eagerly contested ancient necklace. It was set with numerous tiny insects encased for eternity within the forty pale orange beads and exceeded its £4000-6000 estimate to take £14100
Gold was bought very keenly despite a slight dip in the market, with a heavily-laden charm bracelet taking £1940 and a 9 carat cigarette case making £1540. Amongst the watches on offer, a gold Rolex Oyster made £1720 and a more modern lady’s 18 carat Automatic Oyster Datejust by Rolex was bought for £2710. A complementary gentleman’s watch was secured for £3330
Highlights elsewhere included £5300 for a pair of diamond drop earrings; £2830 for a hand brooch made of gold, enamel and garnet and £3940 for a Victorian diamond brooch pendant. The day’s top price was reserved for a truly spectacular diamond necklace that had passed down through the Lascelles family (related to the 5th Earl of Harewood). Formed of 37 graduated diamond clusters interspersed with as many foliate drops, it was presented in its original case and went above its £20000-30000 estimate to take £41950.
