Every year the Lighthouse Gala Auction raises funds to support the Terrence Higgins Trust. The historic Christie’s Auction house hosted this year’s auction last week and saw a donation by designer Theo Fennell raising £6,500. The donated item was a promise to design a unique Portrait Ring for the highest bidder, crafted from sterling silver and with the option of gold detailing.
Yellow Gold Phi Baby Charm
The ring will be designed at the flagship workshop of Theo Fennell Jewellery on Fulham Road - a desirable location for any bespoke piece. The guide price of the lot entitled ‘Bespoke Portrait ring from Theo Fennell’ was £3,000 - £4,000 and it is a credit to the reputation of Theo Fennell Jewellery that it surpassed this estimation easily. Portrait rings have become increasingly popular in recent years, as have pieces of modern bespoke jewellery. An elegant piece of jewellery has always been an investment as well as a fashion statement and portrait rings offer an opportunity to inject the owner’s character into the design.
In total, the auction raised £260,000 and was considered a cultural as well as charitable success; several of the auction lots were from high-profile artists and each guest could purchase keepsake jewellery to commemorate their support of the charity.
Famous names from the worlds of art and design such as Paul Hosking, Tracy Emin, Simon Spurr, and Mark Farhat lent an additional air of prestige to the auction by donating designer pieces; boutique hotels, actors and politicians all offered experience days for the bidders and helped raise awareness for the charity.