The Art of Collecting
Whatever they tell you about collecting, it is not cheap. It is costly in time, commitment and research, and that is before you have even purchased the first item in the category you have chosen. Whatever they tell you about collecting, you would be wise to make a budget and to keep to it. Otherwise, your enthusiasm will run away with you and your money. Whatever they tell you about collecting, be warned that it can become addictive and needs strict boundaries to be kept under control.
8
Whatever they tell you about collecting, an impeccable provenance for all the items in your collection should be your ultimate aim. Whatever else they tell you about collecting, remember to have fun! I am a collector of wearable art in the form of jewellery designed and made in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s. I do not collect for the value of the metal or the stones used but for the artistry of the designer who created the piece. All the jewellery I collect is signed by the designer and/or the maker; it is also UK assay marked with the quality of the metal
A platinum, diamond and fantasy-cut aquamarine pendant by Andrew Grima, 1973. The aquamarine was cut by innovative lapidary Bernd Munsteiner
and date stamped, as collectors like to know as much as possible about the jewellery they own. The jewellery designers and makers working in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s were great artists and craftsmen – men and women who would never sacrifice standards or quality. This attention to detail extended to the boxes they made for their jewellery. Sadly, over the years, the original boxes have become very scarce, as have the receipts. I am passionate about keeping – or trying to find – the original boxes for each piece I collect. For collectors, boxes and receipts add to the provenance of the jewellery, which is of great importance after it becomes vintage. With regards to investment, knowing the provenance of a piece adds hugely to its value over time. As such, I would strongly urge collectors of contemporary jewellery to think twice before chucking boxes and receipts out with the rubbish. HRH Princess Margaret is a good example of a great collector. She was meticulous about keeping her designer jewellery in its individual boxes. When her personal collection came to be sold in 2006, four years after her death, every piece had been carefully recorded and had a story to tell. Provenance could be established, which greatly added to the value.
9
