The season of scary jewellery is approaching with Halloween just a month away.
As it was Friday the 13th, we take the lead in sharing enchanted pieces celebrating this black cat pin.
Superstition says that black cats are bad luck. But many people disagree, loving the midnight color of their feline fur.
Cartier's «Black Alley Cat» brooch, with carved jasper fur and glittering yellow diamond eyes in the shape of a marquise, went under the hammer as lot 3 in the bidding of more than 190 items at Christie's «Jewels Online» auction this Wednesday.
As it came under the hammer, it sold for $50,400. More than double its pre-sale estimate, which was $15,000 to $20,200.
The brooch features 18-carat yellow gold hardware on the back. It is engraved with «Black Alley Cat».
The signed piece, circa 1962, comes from the Nina Dyer collection. A former model who had the brooch specially commissioned by Cartier Paris, according to Christie's.
Dyer was known as one of the most important jewellery collectors of the 20th century. With one of her black pearl necklaces in three sets selling for 12.7 million Swiss francs (about $14.9 million) at an auction in 1969, after her death in 1965.
She was also known for her love of cats.
Her first husband, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, gave her two black panthers who accompanied her on her travels around the world. While her second husband, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, gave her several cuffs, bracelets, bracelets, rings, jabot pins and Cartier «Great Cat» pins.
Although the lucky buyer may not be able to take two panthers with them on their world travels. He can honor Dyer's love of felines by wearing the Black Alley Cat pin.
Source: nationaljeweler.com
