Auction jewellery and fine arts make excellent Christmas gifts

With Christmas only a couple of months away, shoppers are beginning to turn their attention to gifts for loved ones.

Melbourne-based Philips Auctions premium selection of antique and modern jewellery, being auctioned online and ending from 9.30am Monday October 28, could be the ideal solution for those looking for an extra special item.
Lot 1, a stunning black and white diamond leopard bangle by Leo Pizzo, certainly fits the bill with its $16,000-$22,000 catalogue estimate.

Leo Pizzo is an Italian jewellery family who for two generations has dedicated itself to the creation of precious objects.

Founded in 1971 by Leonzio Pizzo in Valenza, the heart of the goldsmith district, the company was boosted 16 years later by the addition of gemmologist Rosaria Di Giorgio.

Leonzio’s three children are all involved with the company – while their father has received several awards including the Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito Della Republica Italiana bestowed in 2012 by the President of the Republic of Napolitano.

A large ruby, diamond and pink sapphire cluster dress ring (lot 28) is another impressive potential gift with its $20,000-$40,000 catalogue estimate, along with a three-stone cushion cut diamond ring totalling 3.13 carats (lot 23) and a 4.15-carat solitaire bow-styled diamond ring set (lot 132).

More affordable is a slanting emerald cut purple sapphire and diamond set bracelet (lot 138) and an antique style carved jade, onyx and diamond detailed long drop earring pair (lot 130).

The fine and decorative arts side of the auction offers a broad range of items which would make splendid Christmas gifts such as the George VI sterling silver bachelor tea and coffee set (lot 156) and a Rene Lalique ‘Rampillon’ opalescent glass vase (lot 207), or the Meissen silver clad hot chocolate pot (lot 227), Meissen porcelain coffee port (lot 226) or Dresden porcelain Helena Wolfsohn chocolate cup and saucer (lot 222).

For those interested in ivory carvings, antique scrimshaws are another feature (see lots 41 and 42) along with Japanese Shibayama carved figures (lot 92) and carved okimono of father and children (lot 100).

Furniture items include an art deco four-door sideboard in rare Macassar ebony (lot 392), an antique Dutch marquetry inlaid chest of  drawers (lot 390), an Edwardian satinwood painted sewing box (lot 391), a Victorian burr walnut dome top Canterbury (lot 393) and an Edwardian satinwood heart-shaped painted side table (lot 396).