The largest private collection of Andrew Grima jewellery ever offered at auction is heading to Bonhams in September.
Grima was one of the most renowned jewellers of the 20th century, famous for his bold and unusual designs, whose clients included royalty, socialites and Hollywood stars such as HM The Queen, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Ursula Andress.
The collection will include 55 pieces by the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer, spanning five decades of his career, from his breakthrough in the 1960s to some of the last jewels created before his death in 2007.
"Andrew Grima’s work is distinct in terms of its design, quality and originality," said Emily Barber, Director of Bonhams Jewellery Department.
"He was essentially an artist whose medium happened to be jewellery. His designs capture the spirit of each era in which he worked, yet are still immensely wearable and contemporary today. Each lot in this sale reveals the diversity and creativity of his work."
Amongst the highlights of the collection are timepieces and jewels from his iconic ‘About Time’ collection, created in collaboration with Omega in the late 1960s.
They include a ‘Cerini’ gold, citrine and diamond watch/bangle, #80 in the collection, estimated at £15,000-£20,000; and a #15 ‘Greenland’ gold, pink tourmaline watch bangle, estimated at £20,000-£30,000.
Further notable lots will include a gold and green beryl ‘stepping stones’ watch bracelet, circa 1972, estimated at £18,000-£25,000; a gold, dioptase and diamond pendant, circa 1973, estimated at £12,000-£18,000; a citrine and diamond-set bangle, circa 1998, estimated at £12,000-£18,000; and a gold, boulder opal and diamond pendant/necklace, circa 1972, estimated at £20,000-£30,000.
"It’s wonderful to see such a truly magnificent collection of my father’s designs in one place," said Francesca Grima, who has continued to run the family business along with her mother Jojo since her father passed away.
"Through his flamboyant and organic designs, he was able to take rough stones in their natural state and create larger pieces which were both exciting and out of the ordinary.
"His use of textured gold and of unconventional stones such as tourmalines, opals, citrine, green beryl and topaz allowed him to create the type of jewellery that had not been seen before; the type of jewellery that people noticed and admired and still do to this day."
The Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale takes place in London on September 20.
