Editor’s Note
Phillips expands its global jewelry footprint with a new Geneva auction series, capitalizing on record sales growth and showcasing rare Art Deco pieces from a private collection.
Phillips has announced its first annual auction in Geneva, following excellent jewelry sales results in 2022, demonstrating the House’s commitment to developing jewelry internationally. The inaugural sales on November 6th in Geneva, in partnership with Understanding Jewellery, will feature rare Art Deco objects from a major private collection.
The Phillips jewelry division posted historic annual results in 2021 and 2022, with an impressive 185% increase in value in autumn 2022 compared to spring of the same year. Today, the jewelry division is present in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and the decision to hold jewelry sales in Geneva reflects the company’s international investments. With its rich heritage and reputation as a hub for luxury and collectibles, Geneva is the ideal location for these prestigious auctions, attracting discerning collectors from around the world.
November 6th is the date for the first auction in Geneva. The exhibition for these sales will take place the week before, from October 31st to November 5th. Three sessions will be required to disperse all the lots. The first session will feature jewelry from various collectors, including superb diamonds and important gemstones, as well as a selection of vintage and contemporary jewelry from major Houses such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. The second sale will focus on extraordinary private collections, with precious Art Deco objects from the greatest artists and jewelry houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Raymond Templier, Sandoz, Ostertag, Lacloche Frères, Marchak, Tiffany & Co., Janesich, Jean Després, Black Starr & Frost, and Boucheron, to name a few. Collected and meticulously assembled over decades, these rare pieces testify to the extraordinary craftsmanship of these artists and the diversity of aesthetics of the Années Folles (Roaring Twenties). The collection of 120 lots will be exhibited in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei, inviting collectors to discover these extraordinary pieces. The final session will be an online sale.
Benoît Repellin, Worldwide Jewelry Director at Phillips, stated.
The centerpiece of the collection is a superb 1920s watch by Tiffany & Co. in onyx, enamel, crystal, jade, and diamonds. This extraordinary piece embodies the artistic splendor of the Art Deco period and showcases the impeccable craftsmanship that has made Tiffany & Co.’s reputation.
The collection highlights the appeal of Chinese and Japanese aesthetics and features exotic materials such as jade and mother-of-pearl marquetry. These true treasures differ from traditional gemstones and instead feature dragons, chimeras, pagodas, Buddhas, and superb Chinese and Japanese landscapes. These works demonstrate how the fusion of cultures transcends borders and inspires new waves of artistic expression.
Inspired by the grandeur of Persian and Islamic civilizations, the collection brings together the clean forms and extreme luxury of the era, where minimalist dress cuts coexisted with fabrics featuring rich Persian-inspired patterns.
Some pieces in the collection celebrate the geometric and architectural forms that defined the Art Deco movement. Inspired by modern machines and industry, these creations with pure lines and bold shapes are perfect examples of the technological advances that marked this era of profound change.
Art Deco floral motifs represent highly stylized flora. In this collection, semi-precious stones, lacquers, and enamels compete in creativity to adorn these precious necessaires and cases in a decidedly contemporary way, revealing the immense diversity of an influential era eager for novelty.
Exhibition in Paris from September 12 to 17, 2023 at 46 rue du Bac 75007 Paris.
Auction on November 6, 2023 in Geneva.