NARDI. A Colored Diamond, Turquoise and Cultured Pearl Blackamoor Brooch. Photo Philips de Pury & Company

Designed as a blackmoor with a carved ebony head, wearing a textured and braided gold turban with a turquoise-set star motif and a colored circular-cut diamond, the top set with a cabochon carnelian, with seed-pearl ear pendants, to the shield-shaped tunic decorated with cabochon turquoise and a circular-cut diamond and cultured pearl trim, mounted in 18K yellow gold, length 2 1/4 inches.  Signed 'Nardi' no. M008 31. ESTIMATE $5,500-7,000 - SOLD AT $8,125

Philips de Pury & Company. Jewels. New York. 6 december 2011 www.phillipsdepury.com