Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 23 on 14/10/2005.

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Art and antiques news

Sally Toms looks at all the latest exhibitions and events from the world of art and antiques

Diamond discovery sale.
One of the most important sales of jewellery ever held in Scotland has taken place at Bonhams in Edinburgh. With a value totalling £300,000, the sale included some of the most significant collections to come out of Scotland for some time.

At the heart of which was a collection of jewels from an aristocratic Highland family. The nine lot collection had remained unseen for 15 years, and Miranda Grant, director of jewellery for Bonhams Scotland, was lucky enough to discover them: “I was contacted by the vendor to take a look at some items of family jewellery.

From Inverness I had a two-and-a-half hour drive through the most incredible Highland scenery to the lady's family seat, whereupon I was invited to view the contents of the safe.

"I was delighted with what I found. Dating variously from 1830 to about 1930 was a selection of gems of the highest order, fashioned by one of the prestigious London jewellers of the day, Carrington & Co, and all in their original boxes and cases. I was stunned by their beauty and condition. These jewels would have been admired by the glitterati of the day. It is remarkable that they have been preserved exactly as they were, with no alteration or ruin."

The single highlight of this collection was an early Victorian diamond necklace (pictured), comprising 66 old-cut diamonds by Carrington & Co. It fetched £27,025.

Anything but run of the mill.
Scotland’s newest arts venue The Watermill in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, has just .....

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By Sally Toms

Section : Scottish Antiques

Page number : 74