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An irreverent but loving investigation into the history and craftsmanship of antique jewelry — tiny objects that often tell us the bigger stories of their age — through pieces cherry-picked from current auctions and dealer websites.

The hottest Substack posts of Dearest

And their main takeaways

Sir Elton, Props from The Crown and the Emperor's Crab

530 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Sculpture Design
  1. A 1855 gold, enamel, and hardstone vase depicting a Greek mythological story is up for auction at Sotheby's for $1.8-2.5 million
  2. An antique 16th-century Paduan crab desk ornament with intriguing imperial Habsburg provenance is being sold at Sotheby's for $25,000-35,000
  3. The collection of Sir Elton John, including unique items like rocket cufflinks and a wish-granting sand-fairy lighter, will be auctioned off at Christie's with diverse pieces from jewelry to photography

A hunger striker's medal, a Danish love token, and Hello Kitty

766 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration History Jewelry Auctions Design
  1. A hunger striker's medal awarded to a suffragette for her efforts in the campaign for women's right to vote
  2. A Danish love token called a hovedvandsæg given by men to their beloveds in the 18th and 19th centuries
  3. Hello Kitty jewelry collection created by Mikimoto and Sanrio, featuring pieces like a pearl necklace with a Hello Kitty face design