Old Brilliant Cut Diamond Worn by Lady Ezra Leads Noonan’s Upcoming Jewelry and Objects of Vertu Auction

An early-20th-century diamond ring worn by Lady Ezra, also known as Rachel Sassoon Ezra, is coming to Noonans’ Jewellery And Objects Of Vertu auction. The cushion-cut central diamond weighs 3.32 carats and is set within a bow with foliate detailing to the sides. The foliate has single and smaller old brilliant-cut diamonds mounted in platinum. This generational piece is coming to auction for the first time. It was passed down to Lady Ezra from her mother, Flora (Farha) Abraham Sassoon (neé Gubbay). She was the great-granddaughter of David Sassoon, one leader of the Jewish community in Mumbai. The Sassoon family moved from Bagdad to Bombay during the early 18th century, becoming some of the first Baghdadi Jews to settle in India. Flora Sassoon had therefore received the best education of the time and was fluent in six languages. After her husband’s demise, she took over the family business, becoming a successful Jewish Indian businesswoman, scholar, Hebraist, and philanthropist.

A late medieval gold posy ring (circa 1400 – 1500) is another notable lot in the auction. It has a broad flattened cross-section, engraved with black letter inscriptions on both the inner and outer surfaces. The external inscription reads ‘mieu en vou,’ meaning ‘best in you.’ The inscription is decorated with flowers and foliage. The internal inscription read ‘a bon am,’ translating as ‘for good love.’ The words are spaced by stylized foliate sprays, with traces of white enamel. Other notable lots are gold presentation cufflinks from the Prince of Wales and the famous Tiffany & Co. scarf necklace by Elsa Peretti. Find the listed items and more on Noonans, and register to place a bid.