A ‘palm’ brooch by the post-war Rue de la Paix jeweller Jean Parmentier, £25,000 at Bonhams.
A version of this brooch was illustrated in the December 1958 issue of fashion magazine L’officiel de la Couture et de la Mode. It featured in an article showcasing ‘joyaux nouveaux’ alongside jewels by Sterle, Chaumet, Mauboussin, Mellerio and Boucheron.
The example set with baguette- and brilliant-cut diamonds and oval and calibré-cut sapphires was offered at the London Jewels sale held by Bonhams Bond Street (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) on July 14.
Estimated at £25,000-35,000, it took £25,000.
Serendipity had it that another version of this c.1958 brooch – with cultured pearls rather than sapphires in the design – was offered in Paris on July 22 by Tajan. However, pitched at €6300-8000, it failed to sell.
