NORWOOD, NJ.- Sterling Associates, one of the Northeast’s most trusted specialists in the sale of fine estate and personal property, has announced highlights of their May 17 Spring Estate Jewelry and Art Auction. Several upscale New Jersey estates and collections are at the forefront of the 139-lot boutique event, including an array of exquisite jewels from the estate of a Bergen County lady.
Leading the jewelry category is a stunning sparkler, a GIA 7.11-carat brilliant-cut pear-shape diamond ring. Its central diamond, graded to be of SI1 clarity, is flanked by diamond baguettes to create a visual display rivaled by few ladies’ rings. Accompanied by its GIA Report, this gorgeous piece is the auction’s top lot, with an estimate of $60,000-$80,000.
The incomparable Cartier name is beautifully represented by an 18K yellow gold and diamond Pasha chronograph watch on a red leather strap with an 18K gold Cartier deployant clasp. It features three sub-dials and a date window, and its factory bezel is profusely emblazoned with diamonds that flow over the lugs. This fine timepiece was recently serviced by Cartier and is ready to grace the wrist of a new, discerning owner. Estimate: $10,000-$12,000.
Diamonds are compatibly paired with blue sapphires in an elegantly designed 18K yellow and white gold necklace. A “bib” style, the necklace features 69 marquise-cut sapphires weighing approximately 40 carats and 19 round diamonds with a total weight of 1.5 carats. The total approximate weight is 75.1 grams. The pre-sale estimate is $6,000-$8,000.
Who isn’t mesmerized by a large, richly hued emerald, especially if surrounded by diamonds and set in a GIA-certified 14K white gold ring? Sterling Associates offers just such a treasure as Lot 27. The emerald weighs in at a hefty 12-13 carats and is encircled by 18 marquis diamonds having a total approximate weight of 3.5 carats with H-I color and VS2-SI1 clarity. The ring’s total weight is 15.3 grams, and it is accompanied by a GIA Certificate. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.
Yet another fine jewelry highlight is an 18K white gold and diamond double-clip brooch featuring two old, larger-size mine-cut diamonds, each weighing approximately .65 carats and graded 9H-I color, VS2 clarity. In addition, the brooch is set with 136 round diamonds weighing approximately 2.9 carats in total, and 28 baguette diamonds weighing approximately .50 carats. The total diamond weight is approximately 4.70 carats, and the brooch weighs 31.1 grams. It comes to auction with an estimate of $3,000-$4,000.
American art exhibiting a variety of genres will be auctioned, including a 1988 LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) silk tapestry titled Elephant Stampede, 1988. It measures 60 by 81 inches and is #36 from an edition of 88 published by Knoedler, New York. This vibrant artwork comes with a studio certificate that was signed and numbered by LeRoy Neiman. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.
New Yorker Sheila Isham (b. 1927-) is an accomplished artist whose color abstractions draw on a wide range of cultural aesthetics, from 20th-century European avant-garde approaches to Washington color school techniques. She is also deeply influenced by ancient Chinese calligraphy, Haitian animism and other styles that impacted her during her years of traveling the world with her diplomat husband. Isham’s Cosmic Myth – Eagle, a 68- by 78-inch depiction of an eagle soaring downward against an indigo sky, was exhibited in 1995 at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta. Its auction estimate is $1,000-$1,500.
An eagle is also the subject of a monumental wood carving that shows the majestic bird of prey in full, with spread wings atop a naturalistic carved-rock base. This massive artwork stands 77 inches high and 48 inches wide. The pre-auction estimate for this impressive work of art is $2,000-$3,000.
Nearly two dozen bronzes are included in the sale, with a number of high-quality European and American Western artists’ works appearing in the selection. There are several depictions of cowboys and Indians, with three bronzes after Remington, and others by Wally Shoop, Daro Flood and Gregory Perillo. A European standout is Paul-Edouard Delabrierre’s (French, 1829-1912) A Lion with Two Cubs. Executed in 1890, this high-quality bronze with dark green and brown patina stands 27 inches high and is inscribed on the base. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500.
A very special consignment of NASA photographs from a former NASA employee will be offered in three consecutive group lots. The photos depict astronauts and NASA personnel who were involved with America’s space program around the time of the 1969 Apollo XI mission, which was the first to land humans on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr, Alan Shepard Jr, Edgar Mitchell and Michael Collins are among the astronauts shown. Other notables include Presidents Nixon and Johnson, legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh, and others, signing a memorial document. NASA identifications and descriptions are shown on the backs of the photos. Each lot is estimated at $200-$300.
The Wednesday, May 17, 2023 online/phone/absentee auction will follow the same innovative blueprint which owner Stephen D’Atri has implemented since first opening the doors to his brick-and-mortar business. The auction will begin at 5pm US Eastern Time and will be conducted online via LiveAuctioneers, exactly like a gallery auction, but without a live audience in attendance. Absentee bids will also be accepted. All items may be previewed through the online catalog or in person at Sterling Associates’ gallery by appointment only. Winning bidders have the option of picking up their auction purchases at Sterling Associates’ premises at 537 Broadway, Norwood, NJ 07648. Alternatively, goods can be shipped anywhere in the world.
