An unprecedented creative force, Los Angeles designer Tony Duquette (1914-1999) made his mark transcending disciplines, creating interiors, costumes and stage sets. His career started to take shape in 1941 when Elsie de Wolfe, Lady Mendl, recognized his talent and became his lifelong patron. In the following decades, he was commissioned to design interiors for prominent figures including Elizabeth Arden, J. Paul Getty and Doris Duke. In 1961, he received a Tony award for his costume designs for the Broadway production Camelot.

Duquette’s multifaceted creative talent was realized in jewelry as well. Through his jewelry designs, he brought the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age into wearable forms. Primarily using semi-precious stones of vibrant colors, Duquette produced a wide array of delightful pieces that echoed the opulence of his interiors and stage designs. His exuberant jewels were appreciated by many distinguished individuals, most notably the Duchess of Windsor and actress Sharon Stone.

Lots 229, 230, 231 and 232 exemplify Duquette’s bold, expressive style. In particular, Lot 229, the set of citrine and gold jewelry, features Duquette’s signature starburst motif in dazzling citrine within a yellow gold surround, referencing the celestial imagery he frequently incorporated into his designs for light fixtures.