The Collection of Luisa Fanti Melloni (estimate: CHF 5 - 7.2 million / $3.6 - 5.2 million) will be a highpoint of the Magnificent Jewels sale to be held on Thursday 20th November 2003 under the leadership of Alexandra Rhodes, Head of the Sotheby's Geneva Jewellery Department, and Stefano Papi, Head of the Sotheby's Italy Jewellery Department, and their teams. Lovingly created by Luisa Fanti Melloni, this unique collection comprises, in addition to several elegant and classic parures, an exceptional group of animal jewels, created by the prestigious House of Cartier, some especially designed for Luisa Fanti Melloni. This collection is being sold in aid of the Alma Mater Studiorum at the University of Bologna, with the proceeds going to support the building of a new cardio-thoracic and vascular unit at Bologna's Sant'Orsola University Hospital.

The Luisa Fanti Melloni Foundation
The Luisa Fanti Melloni Foundation was set up on 29th March 2003 from the legacy left by its patron to the Alma Mater Studiorum of the University of Bologna. The foundation's aim is to support wide-ranging research into cardiology while concentrating on the treatment of heart attacks. Its head office is located in a magnificent palace at 30 Via Santo Stefano, which was the home of Luisa Fanti Melloni. Dating from the 15th century and one of the largest and most beautiful in the city, this palace was bought from Count Bonora in the 1930s by her father-in-law, the commendator Romeo Melloni. It was the last wish of the generous patron that a part of her estate would go to supporting the project to build a new cardio-thoracic and vascular unit at Bologna's Sant'Orsola University Hospital. With a surface area of 6,000 m2, the unit will be Italy's largest cardiology facility.

The collection: in the animal kingdom
Of all the marvellous pieces in this collection, the incredible group of jewels created by Cartier deserves particular attention. Truly original, these coloured jewels in the shape of insects and animals count among the most exquisite jewels created by Cartier in the past 20 years. Some of the pieces were especially created for Luisa Fanti Melloni and represent an exquisite combination of the jewellers' art and the imagination of their creators.

Let us step into this enchanted world of fantasy animals mounted on brooches and look more closely. Protected by a branch of emeralds, `Magadiloulou' (picture right), a lemur decorated with 4.23 carats of diamonds and onyx and eyes of emeralds, resting on an emerald bamboo branch adorned with rubies and emeralds (estimate: CHF 50,000-80,000 / $36,000-56,000 / lot 507); further along, a parrot set with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, perches proudly on a briolette pink sapphire (estimate: CHF 65,000-95,000 / $47,000-67,000 / lot 508), while two other parrots, decorated with white and yellow diamonds, emeralds and rubies sit on a rock crystal perch (estimate: CHF 65,000-95,000 / $47,000-67,000 / lot 490), oblivious to a monkey, pavÉ-set with diamonds, atop to a yellow sapphire weighing 27.95 carats (estimate: CHF 25,000-30,000 / $18,000-22,000 / lot 509). Watching all this with an air of detachment is a majestic cheetah in diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and onyx, lounging on a lapis lazuli branch, its paws and head articulated (estimate: CHF 80,000-110,000 / $58,000-80,000 / lot 510). Pure in form and iridescent in colour, two angel fish from the seas of South America, set with emeralds, diamonds and onyx, swim tranquilly (estimate: CHF 10,000-13,000 / $7,500-9,500 / lot 432 and CHF 6,400-9,600 / $5,000-7,000 / lot 433). From another continent we have a superb giraffe in diamonds and onyx, its eyes two brilliant-cut emeralds, lending this slender and majestic animal a certain charm (CHF 48,000-58,000 / $35,000-45,000 / lot 447).

There are also some particularly interesting rings; a tiger with emerald eyes and a body set of white and yellow diamonds and onyx, jealously protects from any predators a fancy intense yellow emerald-cut diamond weighing 5.41 carats (estimate: CHF 80,000-110,000 / $58,000-80,000 / lot 484). A parrot, far less ferocious, with diamond plumage, eyes of emeralds and mother-of-pearl beak, proudly shelters under its wing a cushion-cut diamond weighing 6.27 carats (estimate: CHF 95,000-130,000 / $70,000-95,000 / lot 491) and another parrot similarly decorated (estimate: CHF 35,000-45,000 / $26,000-32,000 / lot 498).

Such extravagant jewels as these come rarely to auction, lending this collection a unique dimension. Containing a large number of specially created pieces, this collection gives enthusiasts and collectors the opportunity to acquire an original creation by Cartier, one of the world's greatest jewellers.

The collection: precious parures and stones
Also on offer are a large parure of diamonds and sapphires, signed Cartier, comprising a magnificent necklace (estimate: CHF 195,000-250,000 / $142,000-182,000 / lot 502), a ring (estimate: CHF 50,000-80,000 / $38,000-58,000 / lot 503) and a bracelet (estimate: CHF 32,000-48,000 / $24,000-34,000 / lot 504). This sale also contains an extremely beautiful brooch, made by Chaumet in 1950 and comprising four scrolls decorated with baguette diamonds and bordered by brilliant-cut diamonds. This piece originally belonged to Luz Mila Patino, Countess du Boisrouvray and was sold by Sotheby's New York in October 1989 (estimate: CHF 130,000-190,000 / $95,000-135,000 / lot 476). We end the presentation of this superb collection with an emerald-cut diamond weighing 23.93 carats, mounted as a ring between baguette diamond shoulders and estimated at CHF 95,000-130,000 ($70,000-95,000 / lot 506).



EXHIBITION: GENEVA, BEAU-RIVAGE HOTEL
From Saturday 15 to Thursday 20 November 2003, between 10am and 6pm

www.sothebys.com
Contact: [email protected]
(please credit europastar.com)

Source: Sotheby's press release
October 2003