THE PROPERTY OF A COLLECTOR
JEWELLERY FROM SPANISH TREASURE SHIPS
The following group of gold items, salvaged in the Carribbean, is a fascinating addition to the repertoire of gold artefacts from Spanish ships that has surfaced in recent years. Gold chains, so widely featured in Renaissance portraits of successful and eminent individuals, have been melted down but recent discoveries indicate the infinite variety that existed in their weight and design. Spain's incursions into the New World led to the diffusion of European designs in both published and actual form which were then subject to native or oriental interpretation with ingenious results. The two grooming tools in the form of a unicorn and addorsed caryatid figures are highly unusual pieces demonstrating this blending of cultures and reflecting an indigenous knowledge of working gold that enabled new techniques to be mastered and fresh ideas assimilated
AN IMPORTANT EMERALD AND GOLD RING
Details
AN IMPORTANT EMERALD AND GOLD RING
Set in the oval bezel with a cabochon emerald, the mount chased and engraved around the sides and tapering shoulders with scrolls, foliage and flowers, plain gold hoop (black decoration now missing), circa 1600, finger size P 1/2
For other large emerald rings salvaged from Spanish treasure ships cf. Christie's, 28 May 1992, lot 150 and Christie's New York, 14/15 June 1988, lot 151
Set in the oval bezel with a cabochon emerald, the mount chased and engraved around the sides and tapering shoulders with scrolls, foliage and flowers, plain gold hoop (black decoration now missing), circa 1600, finger size P 1/2
For other large emerald rings salvaged from Spanish treasure ships cf. Christie's, 28 May 1992, lot 150 and Christie's New York, 14/15 June 1988, lot 151