John Donald jewellery fetches over £26,000

Jewellery created by esteemed British goldsmith John Donald has fetched over £26,000 including fees at Fellows Auctioneers. John Donald famously designed jewellery for Princess Margaret, sister of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the Queen Mother. He was one of a group of jewellers who revolutionised the industry in the 1960s. Eight of his original and quirky pieces have flown above their estimates at Fellows Auctioneers’ Fine Jewellery sale, which took place in Birmingham on 12^th November. In total, Fellows hammered over £1 million worth of jewellery in the sale.

The eight pieces of Jewellery from John Donald were all in a variety of shapes and sizes. A 9ct gold citrine abstract brooch by John Donald sold for a full price of £4,593.60, which was ten times its estimate of £350 – £450. Other fascinating items received tens of bids as they all sold for brilliant prices in the sale. Many of the items had estimates of under £1,000 and ended up selling for over £3,000.

The innovative and unusual crafting methods adopted by John Donald were one of the key reasons for his jewellery’s popularity. Due to lack of funds as a student, he used rods and tubes to create intriguing shapes, which defined his work. The items that sold at Fellows are examples of these alluring shapes. His career propelled in the early sixties and he went on to produce jewellery for Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother. Donald’s work can also been seen in various museums such as the V&A Museum and the Royal Museum in Edinburgh.

The items created by John Donald were all highlights in the 586-lot Fine Jewellery auction which was held behind-closed doors. Telephone lines and online bidding platforms were particularly busy as the auction house was closed to customers. The sale started at 11am and ended up finishing at 7pm, and it showcased some of the best jewellery that Fellows has to offer. This was Fellows’ last live auction of the year, with several timed sales and pawnbroker auctions going ahead before Christmas.

Alex Duffy, Jewellery Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We are all thrilled that the John Donald pieces received the attention they deserved and sold so well. It is such a fabulous collection of his works, showcasing his incredible ability and unique designs. It was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to handle and catalogue the items, gaining a real understanding and appreciation for the pioneering impact he had on the jewellery industry. They were all part of a private collection and we hope that the vendor is as equally thrilled with the results as we are. I’m sure that the buyers will be eagerly awaiting their exciting purchases.”

A list of jewellery by John Donald in the Fine Jewellery sale. Price realised is the full price sold including fees:

• Lot 227 – A 1970s 9ct gold citrine abstract brooch, by John Donald. Estimate: £350 – £450. Price Realised: £4,593.60.

• Lot 228 – A 1960s 18ct gold cultured pearl ring, with brilliant-cut diamond highlight textured cuboid mount, by John Donald. Estimate: £400 – £600. Price Realised: £4,083.20.

• Lot 229 – A 1970s 18ct gold amethyst textured pendant, by John Donald. Estimate: £450 – £650. Price Realised: £3,572.80.

• Lot 230 – A pair of 1970s 18ct gold, aquamarine and cultured pearl floral earrings, by John Donald. Estimate: £900 – £1,400. Price Realised: £1,403.60.

• Lot 231 – A 1960s 18ct gold turquoise and seed pearl abstract brooch, by John Donald. Estimate – £1,000 – £1,500. Price Realised: £4,338.40.

• Lot 232 – A pair of mid 20th century textured earrings, attributed to John Donald. Estimate: £600 – £800. Price Realised: £918.72.

• Lot 233 – A 1970s 18ct gold carved and faceted sapphire abstract brooch, with diamond highlights, by John Donald. Estimate: £1,400 – £2,000. Price Realised £2,552.00.

• Lot 234 – A mid 20th century 18ct gold textured panel bracelet, by John Donald. Estimate: £2,200 – £2,800. Price Realised: £5,614.40.