Theodore Bruce

Introducing our Team – Casi Prischl

Continuing our series of team profiles, we’re delighted to introduced Casi Prischl, Theodore Bruce Head of Auctions. A longstanding specialist and valuer in Jewels, Silver & Timepieces, Casi also oversees our Single Vendor Auctions – discovering treasure troves of antiques, decorative arts and collectables.

Casi Prischl, Specialist | Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers teamFrom Jewellery Retail to Auctions

Whilst completing an art history degree, Casi began working for Prischl Jewellery, a fine jeweller in Sydney and multi-generational family business. Joining the firm as a sales assistant, she ultimately managed Prischl’s multiple stores, including one on Hayman Island.

Whilst working for Prischl, Casi developed an expert jewellery knowledge, also studying gemmology and diamond grading with The Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA) and becoming a registered valuer with The National Council of Jewellery Valuers. Working part-time with a young child and looking for extra work, she saw an ad for a specialist at Theodore Bruce and came on board.

I started here one day a week as a jewellery specialist, 11 or 12 years ago, working for James (Badgery). At that stage we had a single monthly auction called Emporium – a live auction that included about 200 pieces of vintage and antique jewellery, as well as decorative arts, antiques, books and collectables.

As the number of auctions grew, Casi took on additional roles. “I managed our Art, Asian & Jewels auctions which happened three times a year, and which including publishing hard-copy illustrated catalogues. Then when our decorative arts specialist decided to retire 6 years ago, I embraced decorative arts and single vendor auctions.”

Casi continues to oversee auctions and business functions as our Head of Auctions. From a single monthly auction, that now includes between 20 and 30 online auctions every month.

European School , (19th Century), Portrait Miniature of a Young Lady in a White Dress, WatercolourCollecting the Unique & Historic

Like all of our team, Casi is a collector, her eclectic taste spanning antique jewellery, miniature portraits and Clarice Cliff ceramics.

I adore Victorian mourning jewellery because it is beautiful but also so personal. I love antique pieces with a person’s name or date of death because it’s a real slice of history. My favourite piece is probably a Victorian ring I purchased years ago. It still has hair in the centre, and it’s surrounded by pearls with a name inscribed, so again, it’s something that is very personal and unique.”

Victorian jewellery is also very special because it’s from a time period that’s never been replicated. As with early Australian jewellery, it recalls that period at the turn of the century when jewellery became available to the masses. People who couldn’t afford it before could wear jewellery for the first time, so it signalled a period of massive change.”

A love of the historic and personal also informs her collection of miniature portraits. “That actually first came about after seeing a wall of miniature portraits at the Art Gallery of South Australia and being inspired to replicate it. I love that a portrait is of someone who wanted to leave something behind, to be remembered, and this is one way of honouring that.”

Encountering her first Clarice Cliff pottery while living in London in her 20s, Casi found herself drawn to Cliff’s distinctive style. “I remember walking into an op shop and seeing a triangular, cone-shaped sugar sifter. I loved her shapes, patterns and colours. I also read her biography years later and she was a really interesting person.”

Pictured: European School, (19th Century), Portrait Miniature of a Young Lady in a White Dress, Watercolour

An 18ct Yellow Gold & Platinum Yellow Sapphire & Diamond RingDiscovering at Auction

Working in an auction house is fascinating for anyone who loves antiques and collectables, with the thrill of discovery a major drawcard. For specialists, that includes assessing items that might have been tucked away for years.

I love looking at other people’s things. It’s like Christmas every day! Opening a box or to find a really unique piece of jewellery or antique decorative object or going to view someone’s collection in their home is always exciting. I also love the hands-on aspect including cataloguing, photography and research because you really get a feel for what’s unique and collectable.

You come across new and different things every day. It might be a really nice piece of furniture that you’ve never seen before, or a quality example of a particular style. There was a pair of Art Nouveau lamps we sold a while ago that were really one-of-a-kind, and we have some glass bohemian lamps coming up in our Eclectic auction that are fantastic. It’s those sorts of items that keep it interesting.”

There’s incentive to bid too when surrounded by antiques and collectables. Among Casi’s wins at auction is a beautiful 18ct Yellow Gold & Platinum Yellow Sapphire & Diamond Ring.

An Impressive Australian 18ct Yellow Gold Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond BangleConnecting with Customers

Managing single vendor and jewellery auctions also means getting to know a wonderful group of clients – and having some memorable stories.

We met with the lawyer for an estate auction once who handed us two suitcases for auction, with no idea what was in them. When we got back to the office and opened them, we found an incredible collection of Paspaley pearl jewellery. Among the items was a striking 18ct White Gold South Sea Pearl & Diamond Flower Ring. I remember bidding up to $4,000 but I had to give up then. I really regret missing out on that ring.”

Another memorable collection was the Alan & Jan Cocks Australian Jewellery Collection.

It belonged to a well-known jewellery family who had written a book on collecting jewellery. We went to their house and the client presented us with a box with some incredible pieces. She then went to a safety deposit box and brought out a stunning sapphire bangle. It had sat in a safety deposit box for 40 years.”

At auction a buyer paid $18,000 for the 18ct Yellow Gold Sapphire and Old Mine Cut Diamond Bangle.

“The buyer was so happy, and he and I became firm friends after that. He still rings at Christmas. It went to a nice home and the right people who really valued it for what it was. That’s my favourite piece that I’ve ever sold.”

Theodore Bruce Auctioneers offers regular auctions across all departments – including Single Vendor Collections and Jewels, Silver and Timepieces.

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