London – This spring, Bonhams Knightsbridge presents six sales offering rare and important works across collecting categories, including paintings, sculpture, silver, glasswork, furniture, jewellery, watches and more.

Admire paintings of some of the most significant events in marine history in The Marine Sale on 30 April, including Velsheda just ahead of Astra with Candida Trailing, by John Steven Dews (British, born 1949). The Silver and Objects of Vertu online sale from 9 – 23 May will feature a variety of fine works for any taste, including an American silver four-piece 'Persian' tea service, Tiffany & Co. by Edward C. Moore. Suspended Artefact by William Morris (American, born 1957) is among many remarkable works on offer in the online sale of The Art of Craft from 13 – 22 May. The Collections sale runs online from 20 May – 3 June and offers a variety of exceptional works of art from silver and furniture to sculpture and paintings, including a circa 1775 English School oil painting, View of Lindsey House, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. Knightsbridge Jewels on 21 May features a selection of exquisite jewellery from notable houses including Cartier, Boucheron, Grima and Boodles, including a Cartier coloured diamond and diamond Trinity ring. The final Knightsbridge sale of the season, London Watches on 22 May will showcase a range of vintage and modern timepieces from renowned watchmakers including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Audemars Piguet and Cartier.

The Marine Sale
30 April

A highlight of The Marine Sale is an exceptional oil painting, Velsheda just ahead of Astra with Candida Trailing, by John Steven Dews (British, born 1949), with an estimate of £40,000-60,000. In this important work by one of the most successful living marine artists, Dews depicts the three yachts racing off the Needles, Isle of Wight. Noted vessels in the Big Class British regatta circuit, Velsheda, Astra and Candida are captured in a moment of anticipation, battling strong winds as they compete for the winning position. Ahead by split seconds, Velsheda was a legendary J-class yacht designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built in 1933 by Camper and Nicholsons at Gosport, Hampshire, for businessman William Lawrence Stephenson, Chairman of Woolworth's. She won many trophies for her owner during a glittering career in the 1930s and is one of three remaining J-class boats – along with Shamrock V and Endeavour I – which have survived until the present day and still race competitively.

Additional highlights of the sale are depictions of some of the most significant events in naval history by notable artists including Robert Dodd, Montague Dawson and Dominic Serres RA. An oil painting by William Clark of Greenock (British, 1803-1883) is particularly special – 'God Speed!' having cast off her tow, the crowded emigrant ship Mairi Bhan heads past Ailsa Craig outward bound for New Zealand on her maiden voyage in May 1874. In the 1870s, the passenger trade to New Zealand was highly profitable, with Patrick Henderson & Co. of Glasgow adding the successful iron clipper Mairi Bhan to their fleet in 1874. After a swift 75-day maiden voyage under Captain Massen, she safely delivered 394 emigrants to Port Chalmers, beginning her successful career as a passenger ship. The work has an estimate of £12,000-18,000.

Silver and Objects of Vertu
9 – 23 May

From candlesticks to cruets and salvers to tea sets, the Silver and Objects of Vertu sale features a variety of works for any taste. Among the highlights is an American silver four-piece 'Persian' tea service, Tiffany & Co. by Edward C. Moore, late 19th century. A major figure in the history of American silver, Moore played an instrumental role in building the legacy of Tiffany & Co., leading the brand to unparalleled success in the late 19th century as creative director from 1873-1891. This exquisite tea service, engraved with a 'Persian' inspired foliate pattern and stamped STERLING SILVER 925-1000, is a fine example of Moore's inspirations from diverse cultures and geographies, through which he revolutionised and innovated design at Tiffany & Co. It has an estimate of £2,000-3,000.

An 18-carat gold limited edition goblet commemorating the moon landings is another highlight of the sale, with an estimate of £10,000-15,000. Complete with its original box and certificate, the goblet features a tapering circular bowl engraved with a depiction of Neil Armstrong within an oval reserve reading, 'MAN ON THE MOON 03.56 HRS JULY 21ST 1969'. Its knopped, tapering stem joins a raised circular foot, with the engraving 'ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN – ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND'. The goblet is number 119 of an edition of 500 by A E Jones, Birmingham, 1969, and is being sold on behalf of Children's Hospice South West.

The Art of Craft
13 – 22 May

The Art of Craft sale offers a fine selection of modern and contemporary craftsmanship, spanning from silver to glass, including a 1993 blown glass work, Suspended Artefact, by William Morris (American, born 1957). It is offered from the Boddington Collection of Contemporary Glass, with an estimate of £12,000-18,000. Master glass blower William Morris remains one of the most important and collectable contemporary glass artists in the world and is widely known for his innovative textural and ritualistic works informed by nature and ancient civilisations. Morris' extraordinary manipulation of glass transforms the material to appear as an entirely different surface, including stone, wood, bone and leather, blending traditional glassblowing techniques with his unique experimental artistry. Suspended Artefact is a prime example of his exceptional craftsmanship, at once possessing a sense of solid materiality and a feeling of weightlessness, Morris explores the capabilities of glass in this remarkable work.

Bonhams presents The Art of Craft sale in partnership with London Glassblowing, and the sale will feature works by the founder, Peter Layton. London Glassblowing is among Europe's foremost glass art galleries and one of the longest running hot glass studios. Pink Cloud, freeblown glass, cut and polished, on a glass base, by Peter Layton is offered with an estimate of £4,500-5,500.

Collections
20 May – 3 June

The latest Collections sale offers a variety of exceptional works of art from prestigious single-owner collections across the UK. A highlight of the online sale is a circa 1775 English School oil painting, View of Lindsey House, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. Painted from the viewpoint of the recently constructed Battersea Bridge (c.1771), the work captures the timeless elegance of the historic house in the heart of Chelsea, known for its picturesque riverside walk. Lindsey House, built in 1674 and still standing today, is thought to be the oldest house in Kensington and Chelsea, honouring a continuous history dating back to the 16th century when it was the site of Thomas More's gardens overlooking the Thames. It was remodelled in 1750 and subsequently split into seven separate dwellings. Depicting the seven separate entrance gates, and preserving the beauty of one of London's most historic streets, the work is offered with an estimate of £3,000-5,000.

Knightsbridge Jewels
21 May

Featuring a selection of exquisite jewellery of diamonds, coloured diamonds and coloured gemstones including emeralds, rubies and amethysts, Knightsbridge Jewels will offer fine pieces from notable houses including Cartier, Boucheron, Grima and Boodles. Highlights include a Cartier coloured diamond and diamond Trinity ring, designed as three tri-coloured interlocking bands. Each band is set with brilliant-cut diamonds or circular-cut diamonds of yellow or pink tint, and it has an estimate of £12,000-18,000. Another highlight of the sale is a Boodles diamond 'Wonderland' swan collar, circa 2012. The swan with outstretched wings is set throughout with brilliant-cut diamonds, the clasp issuing a briolette-cut diamond drop, signed Boodles, diamonds approximately 19.00 carats in total. It has an estimate of £10,000-15,000.

Additional notable lots include a Boucheron ruby and diamond bracelet, circa 1959, with an estimate of £3,000-5,000, a Grima amethyst and diamond ring, circa 1967, with an estimate of £3,000-5,000 and a 1.07 carat fancy intense yellow diamond ring with an estimate of £4,000-6,000.

London Watches
22 May

Bonhams presents London watches on 22 May, a curated live sale featuring a range of vintage and modern timepieces from renowned watchmakers including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Audemars Piguet and Cartier. Notable lots include a Rolex Submariner, reference 6536-1, circa 1957, the stainless-steel automatic bracelet watch with black dial and original black calibrated bezel with red arrow is offered with an estimate of £15,000-20,000. Additional highlights include a Patek Philippe, Aquanaut, reference 4960J-001, circa 2006. The 18K gold quartz calendar wristwatch with black grid dial and applied gilt Arabic numeral hour markers, is offered with an estimate of £15,000-20,000. Another notable lot in the sale is an IWC, Portugieser Perpetual Calendar, reference IW502106, circa 2007. The fine 18K gold automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phase and 7-day power reserve, is offered with an estimate of £10,000-15,000.

7 April 2025