Art Smith copper and brass bracelet, sold for $12,500. Photo: Sotheby's

By Mackie Healy, Art Market Views Contributor

Last week’s design auctions in New York included a selection of art jewelry. Here’s a recap.

Christie’s June 17 sale included a spiky Pol Bury gold pendant, circa 1970 and from an edition of 30, which fetched $10,000, at the low estimate.

British pop artist Joe Tilson’s 1968 ‘Ziggurat’ necklace, earrings and ring made $4,375, just over the $4,000 low estimate. A pair of 1971 Tapio Wirkkala earrings, estimated $3,000 to $5,000, failed to sell.

The sale included a trove of jewelry and accessories by Claude Lalanne.  A circa 1970 “Bamboo” necklace and matching bracelet by Claude Lalanne, sold for $35,000, six times the high estimate. The 40-inch long necklace is made of gilt-bronze and was originally acquired directly from the artist by his dealer, Alexandre Iolas.

A circa 1970 gilt-bronze belt by Claude Lalanne went for $27,500. The delicate belt features ornamental leaves that decorate the waist and fall from the belt. The jewelry is remains true to the Lalannes’ organic style. Claude and Francois- Xavier are well known for their bronze lily-pad chairs, benches and bronze and wool ‘sheep’ sculptures.

At Sotheby’s June 16 sale Art Smith’s Modern Cuff, a four-inch copper and brass bracelet sold for $12,500.

Smith is one of the leading modernist jewelers of the mid-twentieth century, and known for his large, wearable statement  jewelry. Twenty-one pieces of his work and archival material are on display at the Brooklyn Museum.  He sold his dramatic biomorphic jewelry from a Greenwich Village shop for decades. He is one of the only African American mid-century designers with an established market and whose work is  collected by U.S.  museums, according to design experts.

Pol Bury gold pendant, sold for $10,000. Photo: Christie's

Claude Lalanne 'Bouche' gilt-bronze necklace, sold for $8,125. Photo: Christie's

Joe Tilson enamel and gold 'Ziggurat' jewelry set, sold for $4375. Photo: Christie's