BYS TA NDE R
CULTUREChristie’s one-of-a-kind
pieces include Georgian gems
and a princess’ pendantBy FRANCESCA CARINGTONAre you in the market for
a pendant owned by a
princess? Or maybe a
marchioness’ tiara? Perhaps Rita
Hayworth’s hatbox is more your
thing? Or are you, like some Asian
Christie’s clients, turning a town-
house into your own private muse-
um of precious things? If you’re
looking for something special,
Christie’s Luxury Week is back this
month for its second year, with three
blockbuster auctions taking place in
one week at King Street: Finest &
Rarest Wines; Important Jewels;
and Handbags & Accessories.
Among the lots is an antique
Louis Vuitton trunk that converts
into a desk, and another made for
travelling with champagne bottles.
Speaking of champagne, there’s an
exceptional offering of bottles from
the four great houses of the region.
With such fervent collecting afoot,tatler.com Tatler July 2019Sam Falls
It took over 150 tests to nail
the technique for Sam Falls’
handbag, a woven jacquard
topped with embroidered
layers, whose flower and leaf
motifs evoke the LA
artist’s canvases.you may want to get your hands on
the ruby-and-diamond knuckle-
duster on sale in the jewellery
auction, or the aquamarine-and-
ruby necklace that belonged to
Grand Duchess Alexandra of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (she was also
the owner of the spectacular aqua-
marine Fabergé tiara being sold by
Christie’s in Geneva). There are
Cartier Panthère earrings, a rare
and intact turn-of-the-19th-century
tiara and a truly enormous rose-cut
Belle Époque diamond ring.
Some of the handbags are bedazzled
too: such as the limited-edition
Entomology bag, one of only 30
made by Damien Hirst for Prada – a
Plexiglass purse lined with real bugs
alongside bejewelled counterparts.
Also on sale are two Hermès Himalaya
Birkins, whose crocodile skin is con-
sidered the zenith of craftsmanship.
Kim Kashardian West has one,
while another was sold last year at
Christie’s for £236,750, setting a
European record. As Rachel Koffsky,
the Head of Sales for Handbags &
Accessories, says, ‘If collectors know
that they have to have it, there’s no
ceiling to what they’ll pay.’ Let the
bidding wars commence.(
Christie’s Luxury Week is at 8 King
Street. St James’s W1, from 5-12 JuneJonas Wood
LA-based Jonas Wood drew
from his own work and combined
line, colour and paint for a cut-out
collage quality – a technique
achieved using digital printing
layered under embroidery.hammertimeAbove, Entomology bag,
by PRADA X DAMIEN
HIRST. Below, silver,
gold and diamond
earrings, circa 1800.
Desk trunk by LOUIS
VUITTON, circa 1920Clockwise from far left, trunk, by
LOUIS VUITTON, circa 1920.
Onyx and diamond Panthère
earrings, by CARTIER. Rose-cut
diamond tiara, circa 1800. Art
deco diamond earrings07-19BYSTLV.indd 39 02/05/2019 01:40
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