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Sotheby’s to Display Rare Jewelry Sketches for 1st Time in Public

The next time you find yourself complaining about the “way things are made nowadays”, refer to to this article from in Blouin Art Info. It’s a gentle reminder of the immense detail that used to go into hand-crafted jewelry. Check out this interesting collection of drawings, created during a time when everything was hand-painted, then fabricated by true artisans.

Sotheby’s in London is to put on show hundreds of vintage-jewelry drawings that have never been seen in public before.

The “Masters of Design” display will feature preparatory sketches before items were hand-made by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and famous “maisons.” The exquisite artwork charts almost a century of design, up to the 1960s. The auction house says the sketches are works of art in themselves and come from a large private collection of 3,000 jewelry documents.

(Remember, we create custom design jewelry using 3 generations of jewelry craftsmanship so we get the importance of detail and artistry!)

 

Sotheby’s London to Show Rare Jewelry Sketches for First Time in Public

Designs for Cartier brooch. Sotheby’s

Designs for brooches attributed to Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1935 Sotheby’s

Design for Cartier Collier de Chien, 1900s Sotheby’s