The Doros Collection: The Art Glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany Volume IV: Tiffany’s Travel and Exploration
Gary Roskin –
Roskin Gem News Report –
If we didn’t love Tiffany lamp shades and vases so much, we could have missed this!
In the Sotheby’s auction titled ‘The Doros Collection: The Art Glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany Volume IV: Tiffany’s Travel and Exploration,’ we discovered, alongside some fantastic glass vases and watercolor paintings, several pieces of jewelry!
Tiffany Jewelry in a Tiffany Art Glass Auction
This auction was a continuation of several Tiffany glassworks auctions. The enameled and glass jewelry items in this private collection were just as appreciated as the lamps, desk objects, paperweights, vases, and paintings. Because they played a part in the entire Tiffany glass collection, they remained together for the Tiffany Art Glass auction.
As for us, there’s no mystery — we love almost everything by Louis Comfort Tiffany. So, we checked out the three Tiffany Glass auctions at Sotheby’s on Friday the 13th and, luckily, found these hidden gems: Two opals – an opal brooch and opal pendant, two Lapis brooches, three moonstone necklaces, a sapphire necklace, a jade brooch, an aquamarine ring, a peridot brooch, and a glass necklace (wait until you see it!). Works such as these necklaces and brooches clearly demonstrate that it’s not the rarity of the gem materials, but the beauty of the jewel that makes it so wonderful.
Pay close attention to the details in the handmade gold chain, and the texture of the gold ring shank and brooch framework. It’s that attention to detail that makes the work of Tiffany rise above.
If you do check out the catalogue, do not overlook the provenance section. Some were in important museums, and exhibitions, while others in famous shops. A few pieces were appreciated by two important jewelry historians: Elyse Zorn Karlin, Maker & Muse: Women and Early Twentieth Century Art Jewelry, 2015, and Janet Zapata, The Jewelry and Enamel of Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1993.
The Sotheby’s Auction Line-up
at 11 am… Louis Comfort Tiffany, Artistry in Glass: The Seymour and Evelyn Holtzman Collection
at 1 pm… Dreaming in Glass: Masterworks by Tiffany Studios, Featuring Property From The Metropolitan Museum of Art
at 5 pm… The Doros Collection: The Art Glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany Volume IV: Tiffany’s Travel and Exploration
As stated online, “Sotheby’s is honored to present the legendary collection of Jay and Micki Doros at auction, the most comprehensive collection of glass works by Tiffany Studios to ever come to market.”
We will always wonder, could these pieces have been even more appreciated at a jewelry auction?
Property from the Doros Collection
Louis Comfort Tiffany and Julia Munson for Tiffany & Co.
Pendant
circa 1907
18 karat gold, platinum, opal, enamel
pendant impressed Tiffany & Co.
1 ¾ in. (4.4 cm) long, the pendant
25 in. (63.5 cm) long, the chain
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with evidence of light wear, largely camouflaged by the texture of the gold. Mounting tests as 18 karat gold and platinum. The opals are translucent, with play-of-color in predominant hues of green and blue, a portion of the larger opal opaque, with crazing commensurate with age, and matrix visible to the reverse of the larger opal and to portions of the smaller opals.
ALL Images from Sotheby’s Auction Catalogue.
Estimate: 25,000 – 35,000 USD
Lot Sold: $168,000 USD
Property from the Doros Collection
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
circa 1910
18 karat gold, peridot, enamel
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 ¼ in. (2.8 cm) long
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with light scratches and nicks commensurate with wear. Mounting tests as 18 karat gold. The peridot, measuring approximately 11.6 x 9.1 x 6.7mm, is medium light slightly yellowish green, eye-clean, with light surface scratches and abrasions seen under 10x magnification. The green and blue enamel is intact and in good condition.
Estimate: 3,000 – 5,000 USD
Lot Sold: $8,400 USD
Tiffany & Co.
“Scarab” Necklace
Favrile glass, 18 karat gold
impressed Tiffany & Co.
12 ½ in. (31.7 cm) long
Condition report
In very good condition. Tests as 18 karat gold.
Estimate: 2,000 – 3,000 USD
Lot Sold: $20,400 USD
Property from the Doros Collection
Louis Comfort Tiffany and Thomas B. Winship for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
circa 1914
model no. T340
18 karat gold, enamel, jade
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 x 1 in. (2.5 x 2.5 cm)
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with surface scratches commensurate with wear and age. Mounting tests as 18 karat gold. The jade is medium deep grayish green, intact and in good condition.
Estimate: 3,000 – 5,000 USD
Lot Sold: $4,800 USD
Property from the Doros Collection
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Ring
circa 1910
18 karat gold, aquamarine and diamond
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
ring size 6 ¾
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with nicks and scratches commensurate with wear and age. Mounting tests as 18 karat gold. The aquamarine, measuring approximately 18.4 x 13.8 x 9.2mm and weighing approximately 13.35 carats, is medium light very slightly greenish blue, very slightly included with abrasions to the facet junctions, seen under 10x magnification. The diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 0.55 carat, are bright and lively.
Estimate: 7,000 – 10,000 USD
Lot Sold: $18,000 USD
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
circa 1915
18 karat gold, citrine
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 ⅛ in. (2.8 cm) long
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with light surface scratches to the gold commensurate with wear and age. Mounting tests as 18 karat gold. The central citrine, measuring approximately 17.0 x 12.6 x 7.9mm, is medium brownish orange, eye-clean, with a couple small scratches and bruises on a bezel facet, seen under 10x magnification. The smaller citrines are medium brownish orange, three with chips, the other intact and in good condition.
Estimate: 4,000 – 6,000 USD
Lot Sold: $5,040 USD
Louis Comfort Tiffany and Meta Overbeck for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
circa 1912
model no. B36337 F4750
18 karat gold, platinum, lapis lazuli
impressed Tiffany & Co.
1½ in. (3.8 cm) long
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with signs of wear including scratches commensurate with wear and age. Stamped 18K, white metal tests as platinum. The lapis lazuli is medium deep blue with flecks of pyrite and minor mottling throughout, overall intact and in good condition, with a few naturally-occurring surface cracks seen on close inspection as is typical of the material.
Estimate: 7,000 – 10,000 USD
Lot Sold: $18,000 USD
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
circa 1910
18 karat gold, lapis lazuli, plique à jour enamel
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 in. (2.5 cm) long
Condition report
In very good condition, with very minor wear and abrasions to the mounting. The enamel is intact and in good condition. Tests as 18 karat gold. The lapis lazuli is deep blue with small pyrite flecks.
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 USD
Lot Sold: $5,400 USD
Property from the Doros Collection
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Brooch
18 karat gold, opal, old European-cut diamonds
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 in. (2.5 cm) long
Condition report
In overall good condition. The mounting in particularly good condition given its age. Tests as 18 karat gold. The opal is translucent white with blue and green play-of-color, with heavy crazing. The diamonds, weighing a total of approximately 0.50 carat, are approximately F-G color, VS-SI clarity.
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 USD
Lot Sold: $8,400 USD
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Pendant-Brooch
with an 18 karat gold openwork chain
18 karat gold, moonstone, plique à jour enamel
impressed TIFFANY & CO.
1 ¼ in. (3.1 cm) long, the pendant-brooch
11 in. (27.9 cm) long, the chain
Condition report
In good condition, the mounting with scratches and areas of discoloration. Tests as 18K. The blue enamel is intact and in good condition, with a few areas of loss noticeable under close inspection. The moonstones are light gray with white adularescence and minute reflective flecks.
Estimate: 10,000 – 15,000 USD
Lot Sold: $5,040 USD
Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co.
Pendant-Necklace
circa 1910
18 karat gold, platinum, moonstone, sapphire, enamel
impressed Tiffany & Co.
16 ½ in. (41.9 cm) long
Condition report
In good condition, with minor wear and abrasions to the mounting. Small areas of enamel loss to one of the navette-shaped motifs. Tests as 18 karat gold and platinum. The moonstone is semi translucent, slightly included, with strong blue adularescence. The sapphires are medium light to medium blue, slightly included.
Estimate: 7,000 – 10,000 USD
Lot Sold: $11,400 USD
