Paris – An exceptional Cartier Panthère coral, emerald, onyx, and diamond brooch, circa 1968, stole the show at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris Jewels on 25 April. Set with brilliant and single-cut diamonds with onyx spots and emerald eyes, emerging from a carved coral Anthurium Corallinum leaf, the brooch surpassed its top estimate to achieve €146,450.

The 160-lot sale made a total of €1,481,646 with 79% sold by lot and 99% sold by value.

Another notable lot was a Van Cleef & Arpels bird on a branch brooch, circa 1960. The design decorated with turquoise cabochons, a carved coral beak, a sapphire cabochon eye, and set throughout with brilliant, marquise, pear, and baguette-cut diamonds on a textured gold branch, sold for more than three times its pre-sale estimate to achieve €96,920.

Marine Girardet, Bonhams Head of Jewellery, France, commented: "Paris Jewels represented a delightful selection of gem-set animal jewellery from leading Maisons in an array of designs from birds, dogs to cats and ladybirds, in addition to lots from the private estate of Greek actress Kyveli. Competition was fierce with the top lots competed for by international buyers and achieving figures above the pre-sale estimates."

Other notable animal jewels include:

• A Boucheron enamel, onyx, turquoise and chrysoprase stylised dog and flower brooch, circa 1960. Designed as a cartoon dog with a flower clasped in their mouth, the eyes are decorated with white and orange enamel, with a nose set with an onyx cabochon and the flower is set with a chrysoprase cabochon within a surround of turquoise cabochons. The brooch sold for more than three times its pre-sale estimate to achieve €5,120.

• A Boucheron enamel and turquoise exotic fish brooch, circa 1965. Decorated with black and white enamel scales with a turquoise cabochon for the eye. The brooch sold for more than twice its pre-sale estimate to achieve €3,200.

Other sale highlights included:

• A sapphire and diamond brooch, set with a circular-cut Kashmir sapphire weighing 2.10 carats surrounded by millegrain and old brilliant diamonds, rose-cut diamonds, and calibré-cut sapphires. The brooch sold for more than its pre-sale estimate to achieve €38,400.

• A sapphire and diamond necklace, circa 1925. Designed as a succession of geometric links, set with old brilliant- and single-cut diamonds, alternating with eight sapphire cabochons, sold for more than its pre-sale estimate to achieve €32,000.

• An old brilliant-cut diamond solitaire ring from the private estate of Greek actress Kyveli (1888-1978). The ring sold for more than its pre-sale estimate to achieve €53,740.

26 April 2024