Rare badges and pins take centre stage at upcoming fine art auction in Leicestershire
A Leicestershire-based auction house is offering collectors an opportunity to own iconic Fabergé lapel pins and rare badges issued to scorekeepers and timekeepers in the London 1908 Olympic Games in a forthcoming sale.
Gildings Auctioneers is offering the rare and highly covetable items as highlights of its next Fine Art and Antiques auction on September 3rd.
The Faberge lapel pins date from late 19th or early 20th century Russia. Made from amethyst, diamond and white enamel, the pins are hallmarked ‘56’, which translates to 14 carat gold. The Cyrillic hallmark also bears the initials of Peter Carl Fabergé. Due to Fabergé’s iconic status as favoured jeweller to the Romanov royal family, the set is expected to achieve £2000 - £3000 at the auction.
The pair of badges up for auction are being sold by the family of Kettering man, Dave Lucas who was awarded them when he performed time and scorekeeping duties at the London Olympics of 1908. The badges, which are rarely found in pairs, are made of bronze with a silvered finish and feature a portrait of the Greek goddess Athena with a laurel branch, encircled by blue enamel. They were produced by Vaughtons of Birmingham who were established in 1819 and remain thriving makers of handmade insignia in the city’s Jewellery Quarter 200 years later. The badges also have an estimated price of £2000 - £3000.
Another badge in the sale that should prove to be highly attractive to collectors is a striking turquoise brooch bearing the crest of Maria Feodorovna, who was born Princess Dagmar of Denmark and later married Russian Emperor Alexander III. Their son, Tsar Nicolas II became the last tsar of Russia when he was executed in 1918. This brooch was awarded to senior staff and trustees of children’s homes.
“We are very excited to be selling these rare and beautiful items that have long been kept in the same families at our next Fine Art and Antiques auction,” says Gildings’ director Will Gilding. “The Fabergé lapel pins are just part of a larger collection of Romanov era jewellery and artefacts from a British family who emigrated to Russia. The consignment includes a charm necklace with a distinctive Fabergé heart charm and another in the form of the famous Fabergé egg.
“As the 1908 Olympics were only the fourth Olympics of the modern Olympiad era, artefacts from these Games are of particular interest to collectors. Indeed we sold a scorekeeper’s badge from the same event for £1,500 back in March 2015,” continues Will.
“Our Fine Art and Antiques auctions are where we sell the finest and most impressive items we source each year. These can come from the areas of ceramics, art, paintings, furniture and fine silver so it is a happy coincidence that we have three such fascinating examples of pins in this sale. As always, we expect the sale to create a lot of interest, both locally and internationally.”
Those interested in viewing the Fabergé items, London Olympics badges and other items in the sale can do so at Gildings on Friday 30th August (10am-4pm), Saturday 1st September (9am – 12pm), Monday 2nd September (9am-4pm) and before the auction on Tuesday 3rd September from 9am – 10.30am.
Anyone with items they wish to have valued with a view to selling at auction can arrange a no-obligation valuation with Gildings by calling 01858 410 414.
Individuals wishing to bid on the day can do so in person, online or by submitting an absentee bid. For more information visit www.gildings.co.uk.
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Established in 1980, Gildings is one of the leading auction houses and valuers in the Midlands. The business remains family-run and has a strong client base nationally and internationally.
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