"The History of Jewelry" Published by Rizzoli

Carved Rock Crystal Fish Desk Objects by Boucheron A pair of rock crystal and gem set table ornaments, circa 1970 Designed as a rock crystal carp upon a jasp...

Freres Rochat Gold Bird Box This stunning gold box was created by Frères Rochat circa 1820. At first glance, it may seem like a well-crafted, beautifully designed snuff box with a pearl floral motif on top. However, it holds a hidden surprise - a technical marvel of a singing, rotating bird! The button on the rim opens up the lid to reveal the intricately crafted bird that sings and rotates. It's a wonder how the complex mechanical mechanisms fit into such a small space. This antique box is truly extraordinary and a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the Rochat brothers. About Freres Rochat: Frères Rochat is a Swiss company that was founded in the early 19th century by Antoine and Samuel Rochat, two brothers who came from a long line of skilled watchmakers. The company quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the finest mechanical timepieces and automata of the time, including singing bird boxes, which they became particularly renowned for. The Rochat brothers' innovative designs and engineering prowess made them highly sought after by wealthy collectors and royalty alike. They were commissioned to create bespoke pieces for many high-profile clients, including Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Tsar, Alexander I. In the mid-19th century, Frères Rochat was taken over by another watchmaking family, the Favres, who continued to produce exquisite automata and timepieces in the same tradition. The company continued to flourish, with many of their creations being displayed in museums around the world. Today, Frères Rochat is still regarded as one of the foremost names in luxury watchmaking and mechanical automata. Their antique singing bird boxes are highly prized by collectors and connoisseurs, and the company continues to produce exceptional timepieces and other mechanical creations to this day. About Bird Boxes: Gold musical bird boxes...

Desk seal with the arms of the Prince of Wales. Very rare and unusual desk seal, created in England during the Edwardian period, back in the early 1900's. This seal feature the arms of the Prince of Wales and is composed by the agate pommel, carved with smooth surfaces and the round mount setting crafted in yellow gold of 18 karats with scrolls decorations. The seal depicts three feathers aligned over a crown, carved with incised intaglio in natural white agate. Gemstones: The handle pommel is carved from a single piece of brown translucent agate with bluish veins. Weight: 14.95 Grams, (9.58 Dwt). Measurements: 41 mm by 19 mm (1.61 x 0.75 Inches). Hallmarks: No marks, electronically tested for 18 karats gold. Arms of Prince of Wales The Prince of Wales's feathers – Almost History The coat of arms of the Prince of Wales is the official personal heraldic insignia of the Princes of Wales, a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, formerly the Kingdom of Great Britain and before that the Kingdom of England. Since Edward I awarded it to his son the future Edward II, the heir apparent to the English throne has been created with the title Prince of Wales. The history of the coat of arms is closely linked with those of the Royal coat of arms of England and the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. However, as the noted antiquarian and heraldist Charles Boutell wrote in 1863, "The Arms of the Prince of Wales have a distinct individuality of their own, with which nothing ought to be directly associated". History The badge has no connection with the native Princes of Wales. Its use is generally traced back to Edward, the Black Prince (1330–1376), eldest son and heir apparent of Edward III of England. Edward bore (as an alternative to his differenced royal arms) a shield of Sable, three ostrich feathers argent, described as his "shield for peace", probably meaning the shield he used for jousting. These arms can be seen several times on his chest tomb in Canterbury Cathedral, alternating with his royal arms (the royal arms of King Edward III...

Eight stunning vintage Sotheby jewelry auction catalogs filled with amazing photographs of jewelry such as Cartier, Tiffany and other famous makers li...