Important Jewels | Argyle Pink Diamonds: Beyond Rare 6 Fine Art | Romance & Theatre: The Work of Norman Lindsay

IMPORTANT JEWELS

Argyle Pink Diamonds: Beyond Rare

Important Jewels Auction Tues 10 Aug, 6pm SYDNEY

ABOVE: A Very Rare Argyle Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring $480,000-620,000

Defined by its extraordinary brilliance, this diamond gem is an exciting opportunity for the seasoned diamond connoisseur or astute collector to acquire a truly unique Argyle treasure.

OPPOSITE: An Impressive Sapphire, Argyle Fancy Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring $150,000-180,000

BELOW: Platinum and 18ct Pink Gold, Argyle Fancy Intense Purple Pink Diamond and Diamond Ring $140,000-180,000 For the jewellery connoisseur coveting extreme rarity and unparalleled beauty, highly saturated, fancy coloured diamonds represent the ultimate prize. So rare are coloured diamonds that only one in 100,000 diamonds qualifies as a ‘Fancy’ colour. The odds lengthen exponentially as the diamonds increase in size.

Across the colour spectrum, red diamonds are the most highly prized, whilst shades of the red hue, especially pink, are the most sought after. Before its closure last year, the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia had been the most significant and consistent source of pink diamonds in the world, producing stones of incomparable brilliance, tone, and splendour. Prior to the Australian discovery in the 1980s, the supply of pink diamonds from India, Borneo, Brazil, and Africa had been intermittent and unpredictable.

Diamond crystals formed deep in the earth’s mantle some 1-3.5 billion years ago. More recently, (tens to hundreds of million years ago), they were carried to the surface by deep-source volcanic eruptions. Scientists now believe that the red and pink colours in diamonds are the result of a molecular distortion in the atomic structure of the crystals, caused by massive volcanic activity. Most Argyle diamonds are relatively small in size, appearing in a breathtaking colour palette of tender peach, warm bronze, chocolate brown, lilac-tinged pink, even violet, red and blue, in a kaleidoscope of tones, hues, and saturations. They are often set to add accents of visual excitement to white diamond jewellery as we can see in lot 73 of the August Important Jewels auction, or they may be used to create a striking contrast with coloured stones, as with a Sri Lankan sapphire in lot 55.

The allure and appeal of Argyle pink diamonds has been enhanced by the company’s “chain of custody” protocols covering provenance and traceability. Each year’s finest and rarest stones - only 1% of all polished pink diamond production - the vivid or intense pinks, purplish pinks, reds, purples, and blues, are offered in the annual sealed bid ‘Tender’, to a group of some 150 invitation-only buyers.

The Tender stones are eagerly sought-after, particularly the named ‘hero’ stones, the highlights of each Tender collection. According to Arnaud Soirat, CEO of Rio Tinto Copper and Diamonds, since the year 2000, Tender stones have significantly appreciated in price, often outperforming other investments.

With its closure in 2020, the Argyle Diamond Mine has cemented its place in gemstone history, having produced such extreme beauty born out of natural chaos.

HAMISH SHARMA / Head of Important Jewels

FINE ART

Fine Jewels & Timepieces Auction Mon 7 June, 6pm MELBOURNE

OPPOSITE: Lot 105 - AN ARCHEOLOGICAL REVIVAL GOLD AND JEWELLED ENAMEL DEMI-PARURE ATTRIBUTED TO EUGÈNE FONTENAY, CIRCA 1870 Designed as a collar applied with gold wirework, granulation and jewelled enamel bead trailing foliate detail, set at intervals with florettes with cable link chains suspending a fringe of detachable amphorae pendants decorated with stylised papyri and palmettes embellished in polychrome enamels, gold wirework and garnulation, to a concealed clasp; and a pair of pendant earrings, en suite, mounted in 18ct gold, the centre pendant with glazed compartment to reverse, necklace circumference approximately 350mm, earring length approximately 52mm, unsigned, accompanied by a fitted case Watherston & Son, Goldsmiths, Jewelllers and Silversmiths, 12 Pall Mall, East London $40,000 - $60,000

Romance & Theatre: The Work of Norman Lindsay

Fine Art Auction Tue 31 Aug, 6pm MELBOURNE

OPPOSITE: NORMAN LINDSAY (1879-1969) The Performance 1921 watercolour on paper 55 x 52.5cm $30,000-35,000

ABOVE: NORMAN LINDSAY (1879-1969) Garden of Felicity 1921 watercolour, 39 x 40 cm Art Gallery of New South Wales Gift of Howard Hinton 1927 © Estate of Norman Lindsay Norman Lindsay led a bohemian lifestyle in the early 1900s, enjoying theatre, live music, galleries, and the bustling café society. In the interwar years especially, this romantic escape was far removed from the reality of urban life.

After joining a dedicated circle of poets and writers who were committed to the classical revival in Australia, Lindsay felt encouraged to explore mythological representations in his art. He was particularly focused on Bacchus, the Roman God of Wine, who celebrated all things relating to pleasure. Lindsay was utterly fascinated with this new realm, finding he could combine the theatrical and poetic with the mythical - a dual focus that would follow him throughout the course of his career.

This delicate watercolour, The Performance 1921, depicts a procession of female beauties gracing the stage, many adorned in theatre costume as they emerge from beyond the curtain. Anticipation grows for us, the audience, as the curtain is drawn back and the performance unfolds. The narrative is direct from Lindsay’s imagination, revealing a complex layering of theatre, romance and desire. Infused a with Pre-Raphaelite like romanticism, Lindsay’s watercolours are as gentle as they are dramatic. Heavy with eroticism and sensuality, the precision in which Lindsay has detailed his performers is mesmerising, with no detail left untended. While inherently softer in colour, this work demonstrates astute restraint by Lindsay. Detailed areas, such as the subject’s garments, the texture of the curtain, and the floral decorations contrast with the lighter flesh tones and deep blue of the night.

This soft and subtle exploration of secret pleasure is comparable to works in the Art Gallery of New South Wales Collection such as A Roman Night 1916 and Garden of Felicity 1921, all demonstrating Lindsay’s superb ability and confidence utilising the medium of watercolour and his clever restraint of colour and definition for dramatic effect.

Attracting both praise and controversy, Lindsay’s handling of the watercolour medium is what enabled him to produce imagery of such delicacy and immense detail. His mastery of the medium and creative imagination gave him a vibrant pathway to become one of Australia’s most documented and discussed 20th Century artists.

LUCY FOSTER / Art Specialist