Valuing antique & vintage metalwork

Valuable antique and estate pieces have been lost to the scrapper because neither seller, nor buyer, realized that the item had value beyond its metal weight. Before selling heirlooms and antique jewelry for their scrap value, consider having the jewelry evaluated by specialists at an auction house, either by making an appointment to bring in pieces, or sending detailed images. Auction houses normally do not charge for the initial review and verbal appraisal of jewelry, as it is an integral part of their business model. Owners can also send jewelry to reputable major auction houses for review through insured mail if an “in person” visit is not possible.

The heads of jewelry departments of major auction houses, and their teams of specialists, combine to offer many years of experience in their field. Through constant interaction with estate lawyers, collectors and the general public, jewelry specialists review and auction large volumes of old jewelry. They are therefore in an excellent position to recognize jewelry that is collectible but not obviously valuable, even when the items are not signed or even marked for gold content. Specialists can determine jewelry’s metal content with non destructive tests, and, as part of their evaluation, can offer a realistic idea of a likely market value, using their knowledge of comparable items that have been recently auctioned.

Consider the following cases of unmarked antique and vintage metalwork, handled by Gloria Lieberman and her department at Skinner Auctioneers:

The antique chain in figure 1 is made of brass called "pinchback," an alloy of copper and zinc. popular in the 18th century as a substitute for gold. Although the metal content value is negligible, the chain was bought by specialized collectors for $1100.

This Archaeological Revival 18K gold and amethyst fringe necklace was found tangled up with other items in a plastic bag stuffed with costume jewelry which Skinner reviewed in the thorough process of conducting an estate appraisal. In such appraisals, no item is overlooked. The owners and the heirs were completely unaware of the value of this necklace, which had been handed down through the generations and was somehow forgotten. Its gold content was unmarked, and the double “C” Castellani hallmark was small and difficult to find without an expert to recognize the work and know where to find the maker’s mark. Castellani were among the most important jewelers of the nineteenth century, and their jewelry, collected by Americans on Grand Tour, is highly prized today. The necklace, even though damaged by harsh treatment, brought $26,000. Fig. 2 photo provided by SkinnerInc.com.

In other cases, workmanship that appears amateur can lead sellers to undervalue items. They can mistake handcrafting for crude construction and poor taste, as with the unsigned Arts & Crafts period bracelet below by Edwards Oates Studios. Before scrapping the unwanted bracelet, however, the owners had it evaluated among a group of other gold and costume items. Skinner sent the bracelet to Edward Oakes’ family for authentication as a 1920s work from their studios, and it brought $5500 at auction. Fig. 3. Arts and Crafts period bracelet (circa 1920's) photo provided by SkinnerInc.com.

An extraordinary example of fine gold work, whose style fell out of favor in the 20th century, is exemplified by this armband. It came to Skinner from a pawnbroker and was entirely without hallmarks or signature. Further, it seemed to have been damaged. It had drilled holes that did not serve any purpose, and was missing several small gems. It appeared too large to wear. However, research subsequently showed that the piece was an 18K gold armband from the Parisian jeweler Boucheron, and bought by the American millionaire’s wife Marie Louise Mackay in 1876. The drill holes had once accommodated a large detachable brooch, since lost, likely destroyed for the natural pearls with which it was set. Even in this incomplete condition, the armband brought $34,000, almost ten times its substantial weight in gold at the time of sale. Fig. 4 provided by SkinnerInc.com.

Finally, this large silver brooch was brought to the attention of Mrs. Lieberman, whose reputation as an early supporter of artist jewelry during her 40 years in the business is widely known. The owner had purchased the unmarked, unsigned piece at a large garage sale in suburban Los Angeles. Initially reluctant to spend the money on herself, she bought it because it “spoke to her” and had remained unsold after the third day despite the $5 price tag. It was made of a single piece of wire, including the brooch pin. Though the owner did not think to connect the piece to a major modern artist, she nonetheless felt it had intrinsic artistic value and that Mrs. Lieberman, whom she knew from Antiques Road Show appearances, would appreciate it. Skinner subsequently handled the brooch’s authentication by the Calder Foundation, whose experts dated it to 1942. The brooch brought $33,000 at auction, well beyond its value as a few ounces of silver. Fig. 5 Calder silver brooch photo provided by SkinnerInc.com.

The prior examples, illustrate that the auction market is an important option for sellers to consider. It is vital to understand that presenting jewelry at auction is different from selling jewelry directly to dealers. Since auction houses do not buy jewelry but act instead as the seller’s agent, the auction house’s interests and the seller’s interest are mainly aligned. The auctioneer is paid on commission, which is maximized by achieving the highest possible price for the seller

At the same time, the auctioneer’s business depends on describing the items accurately to potential buyers, which helps it achieve a good reputation among buyers and high prices for sellers. This positive dynamic benefits all the participants in the market. Sellers should understand that auction houses charge both a standard seller’s commission and an auction premium over the hammer price (paid by the buyer), which are used to cover the substantial marketing and staffing expenses of running an auction. The commission and premium are of course the main source of the firm’s revenue. When sellers are auctioning valuable items of jewelry, the seller’s commission may be negotiable, but this is not always the case if the jewelry’s value is modest. There is often a four to six month time frame before the jewelry can be auctioned and payment made. If the seller needs immediate funds, auctioneers may advance money, but only if important and valuable items are being sold. Each item sold is given an auction estimate based on hammer prices of similar items in past auctions.

Specialists should be willing to explain the rationale behind these estimates. Typically, a mutually agreed reserve will be placed on the jewelry to ensure that it does not sell below intrinsic value.

Increasingly, antique and vintage jewelry is gaining appreciation as an important part of our cultural and artistic heritage. New jewelry curatorships have been established at major institutions, such as the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, who are pioneers in this area. Many auction house specialists and dealers are highly motivated to share their knowledge and experience in this cause, and owners can both benefit from and participate in this trend.

Written by Sheila Smithie, who worked for ten years as a specialist for Gloria Lieberman in the Jewelry Department of Skinner Inc. Auctioneers.

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