THE ALAN & JAN COCKS AUSTRALIAN JEWELLERY COLLECTION

Over a period of forty years Alan travelled throughout Australia collecting Australian jewellery with his brother Graham, who co wrote Australian Jewellers with Kenneth Cavill and Jack Grace, the preeminent book on Australian Gold and Silversmith’s from 1800 to 1950.

The Jan and Alan Cocks Collection includes jewellery from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s and showcases many of this country’s most notable gold and silversmiths including T.M. Willis, Melbourne, Rollason and Co, Sydney, William Golding and Son, Tasmania and J.M Wendt, Adelaide.

Highlights from the Collection include an impressive sapphire and old mine cut diamond bangle made by Dennis Bros, Melbourne, who were regarded highly for their craftsmanship, being awarded the Order of Merit, First Class at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880, it is possible that the bangle was shown at this Exhibition. Another highlight of the Collection is a silver trophy cup made by J.M.Wendt, Adelaide, featuring an unusual tree fern stem and awarded to J Thomas in 1880.

The Collection encompasses elegant jewellery of the time across brooches, necklaces, cufflinks, bangles, fob chains and rings with a focus on Australian motifs including a stunning gold brooch in the form of a Kookaburra sitting on a branch made by Duggin, Shappere and Co of Melbourne, decorated with pearls, rubies and rare demantoid garnets.

Theodore Bruce is proud to offer this magnificent Private Collection of Australian Jewellery, the Auction will be held on 19th May at 6pm. Catalogue available online here.