gems, jewelry, diamond, history of jewelry, emerald, pearl, ruby, topaz, imperial topaz, Brazil, amethyst, glyptic

Joao Távora Magalhães, Sotheby’s: The story of this book—and of the exhibition that first accompanied it in Lisbon—began with a chance visit to S.J. Phillips on New Bond Street in October 2016. Drawn in by an intriguing Instagram post, I stepped into this legendary gallery hoping to see some fine jewels. What I found, quietly displayed in the back room, was a remarkable group of pieces whose color and energy were both astonishing and deeply familiar to my Portuguese eyes. In that moment, I knew this extraordinary collection had to be brought to Lisbon for public display. A quick conversation with Francis, Jonathan, and Nicolas Norton, the partners at S.J. Phillips, and a visit from our ever-supportive Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, Patti Wong, set everything in motion. Portugal, in the context of European arts, has made an indelible mark by absorbing global influences from the many territories with which it has long been associated, creating a distinctively national style that found its finest expression in the Decorative Arts. The S.J. Phillips Collection of Portuguese jewels—centered on 18th-century masterpieces—perfectly embodies a moment of immense richness in Portuguese art, when Lisbon was receiving vast quantities of gold, diamonds, and minerals from Brazil. There, these treasures merged with the latest European artistic trends under the patronage of the great King Dom João V. Diana Scarisbrick, the foremost authority on historic jewelry, not only documents this pivotal period but also traces the development of this sophisticated art form in its entirety. Through her words and insights, we hope to bring greater international recognition to Portuguese jewels. Sotheby’s and S.J. Phillips have been neighbors on Bond Street—the heart of the art and antiques world—for a century, enjoying a warm, fruitful, and always mutually enriching relationship. It is a deep pleasure to mark this centennial friendship with this book. On a personal note, I offer my heartfelt thanks and admiration to Francis, Jonathan, and Nicolas Norton for assembling this exquisite collection and for allowing Sotheby’s and me to share in its story.