Under normal circumstances, one must be personally approved by Joel Arthur Rosenthal in order to purchase one of the magnificent jewelry designs he produces in Paris under the name JAR. But during Heritage Auctions’ Spring Fine Jewelry Signature® Auction on May 2 – which features the largest private collection of composite, titanium and aluminum JAR ear clips ever to have been offered at auction – bidders will have the rare chance to take home one of the internationally adored jeweler’s coveted creations.
Renowned for his sculptural, meticulously crafted designs, Rosenthal counts celebrities such as Gywneth Paltrow, Ellen Barkin and Elle Macpherson as fans. Born in New York City, he opened his Paris boutique in 1978 after a stint with Bulgari, and, in 2013, he became the first living jeweler to have an exhibition of his work staged at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “JAR is to jewelry as Jeff Koons is to contemporary art,” says Brett O’Connor, Heritage Auctions Senior Director, Private Sales Jewelry & Timepieces. “The fact that he produces only about 70 pieces each year makes his exclusive designs even more noteworthy.”
JAR’s wearable works of art featured in Heritage’s spring event include 20 pairs of bold, beautiful ear clips by the designer whom Diane von Furstenberg once called “the Fabergé of our time.” Made of materials such as titanium, aluminum and resin, the featured ear clips – many of which pay homage to nature with floral and foliate designs – come from the collection of a single consignor, a fashion-savvy collector who had the vision to begin her assemblage nearly a decade ago. “Heritage is thrilled to have been chosen to offer this impressive and bold collection of ear clips by the world-renowned jeweler,” O’Connor says. “Instantly recognizable as JAR, these 20 pairs of ear clips are fun, collectible and very fashionable. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a jewel by JAR from a diverse and beautiful collection.”
Awash in shades of blue, green, purple, orange and pink, the featured offerings include nature-inspired ear clips sculpted into the shape of geraniums, pansies, almond blossoms, gardenias, leaves and more. Other outside-the-box shapes include pinwheels, cones, fans, hoops, spirals and shields. All of the JAR jewels in this auction carry an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000, with a $2,500 reserve. “From an investment perspective, this line has consistently gone up in value over the years and is highly collectible,” O’Connor says. “And our spring event offers a seldom seen chance to purchase one of JAR’s remarkable creations at an affordable price.”
