AN ART NOUVEAU MULTI-GEM AND ENAMEL 'GLYCINES' TOUR-DE-COU, BY PHILIPPE WOLFERS

Items which contain rubies or jadeite originating … Read more

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

Details

AN ART NOUVEAU MULTI-GEM AND ENAMEL 'GLYCINES' TOUR-DE-COU, BY PHILIPPE WOLFERS
Designed as five alternating carved watermelon tourmaline and opal wisterias, between purple and green plique-à-jour enamel scrolling leaf clusters, enhanced by scrolling garnet-set accents and ruby details, 1900, 34.0 cm, mounted in gold
With maker's mark for Philippe Wolfers, signed Ex-Unique for 'Exemplaire unique'

Literature

Adriaenssens W. & Steel R., La Dynastie Wolfers De l'Art Nouveau à l'Art Déco, Pandora, Anvers, 2006

Exhibited

Brussels, Hotel Solvay, Le Bijou 1900, no. 96, 1965

Special Notice

Items which contain rubies or jadeite originating in Burma (Myanmar) may not be imported into the U.S. Please be advised that a purchasers inability to import any such item into the U.S. or any other country shall not constitute grounds for non-payment or cancellation of the sale. With respect to items that contain any other types of gemstones originating in Burma (e.g., sapphires), such items may be imported into the U.S., provided that the gemstones have been mounted or incorporated into jewellery outside of Burma and provided that the setting is not of a temporary nature (e.g., a string). On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.

Sale Room Notice

Please note that a watermelon tourmaline carved leaf is deficient, it will be replaced after the auction.

Lot Essay

The Belgian goldsmith Louis Wolfers founded Wolfers Frères in 1834. Philippe Wolfers, his son, joined his father’s workshop in Brussels in 1875. His initial designs were in the Rococo style, but by 1890 he had begun ascribing to Art Nouveau aesthetics. His creations dating between 1897 and 1905 are stamped “ex [emplaire] unique” to differentiate them from the pieces made by the Wolfers Company. He only created 131 unique pieces. In 1908, he halted his jewellery production to become a sculptor. Since 1987, Patrick Descamps has been managing this prestigious company whose luxurious premises are currently located at 1, Boulevard de Waterloo, in Brussels, Belgium. As well as an exceptional collection of antique jewellery of worldwide reputation, Wolfers also designs custom made contemporary jewellery.

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