Very fine and rare rock crystal and diamond brooch, JAR, 1987. 

Designed as a dragonfly, the wings of carved rock crystal backed with gold, with gold filled veins, each inset with a triangular diamond, highlighted with round diamonds, the body composed of faceted diamond roundels, mounted in silver and gold, signed JAR Paris, case.. Estimate 230,000-410,000 CHF

PROVENANCE: This brooch was exhibited at the "Jewels of JAR Paris" retrospective held at the Gilbert Collection in London, November 2nd 2002 – January 26th 2003.

LITERATURE: Cf: Arthur Rosenthal, JAR Paris, Avon & Windrush, London, 2002, number 265, for an illustration of this brooch.

NOTE: JAR was established on the Place Vendôme in Paris in 1977 by Joël Arthur Rosenthal, widely acknowledged as being the most talented jeweller of his generation and better known by his trade name JAR. Born in New York City, Rosenthal studied Art History at Harvard University, later working in the film industry and then with Bulgari. Drawing upon the past, but allowing his natural creativity to dominate, he has reinterpreted jewellery as an art form, crossing the boundaries between ornamental jewels and sculpture. JAR's work is always imaginative and beautifully crafted and often incorporates unusual gemstones in brilliant and unexpected combinations. A 10th anniversary celebration exhibition was held in New York in 1987 and a larger highly glamorous retrospective of 400 jewels was on show at The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House in London in 2002.

Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels, Geneva | 15 Nov 2011 www.sothebys.com