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Mexican silver excels at Moran’s modern jewelry sale

Tom Hoepf

Tom Hoepf

An assembled set of William Spratling jewelry, price realized: $3,750. Moran’s image

MONROVIA, Calif. – Moran’s June 10 Jewelry: Made Modern auction achieved strong prices. Bidders competing to bring home an array of works from the century’s leading artists and designers were fully engaged online and on the phone throughout the remote sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Mexican silver proved once again to be among the most coveted examples of Modernist jewelry. An assembled set of William Spratling jewelry with its clean lines and classic design caused a bidding war when it hit the block, soaring to $3,750 (above). All prices realized include Moran’s 25% buyer’s premium.

A suite of jewelry by Fred Davis with its pointed arrow design made a splash at the sale, bringing $2,500. Hubert Harmon was among the hottest designers of the sale, with a cheeky bomb-motif necklace and bracelet causing a stir when it hit the block, selling online for $2,500 (below).

Two Hubert Harmon bomb-motif jewelry items, price realized: $2,500. Moran’s image

A fabulous group of Zodiac-themed charms with a link bracelet from famed Margot de Taxco realized $4,062.

Modernist jewelry from around the globe realized some of the top prices of the sale. A rare and wonderful “Visage” necklace from Pablo Picasso designed in 18K yellow gold brought $11,875, the top price of the day.

A Pablo Picasso ‘Visage’ 18K yellow gold necklace, price realized: $11,875. Moran’s image

A fun concentric circle necklace from Finnish designer Nestor Westerback realized $625 at the auction. A wonderful Graziella Laffi bracelet with Peruvian-inspired motifs and shell beads soared past its high estimate to bring $1,625.

A Graziella Laffi silver and shell cuff price realized: $1,625. Moran’s image

American designers were well represented in the auction. A delightful Peter Macchiarini mixed-metal brooch in the artist’s coveted mask design caused a bidding war when it came to the block, selling to a determined phone bidder for $1,125.

A Peter Macchiarini mixed-metal brooch, price realized: $1,125. Moran’s image

A gorgeous enamel and silver ring from San Diego-based James Parker brought $812. A fun suite of jewelry from H. Fred Skaggs was one of the most popular lots heading into the auction, realizing $1,125.

A set of H. Fred Skaggs gem-set jewelry, price realized: $1,125. Moran’s image

Consignment inquiries are always welcome. For details contact Maranda Moran at

marandam@johnmoran.com or 626-793-1833.

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View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/