Susan Rumfitt - Power and Symbolism of Tudor & Jacobean Jewellery - Fri 24th July 4.00pm
“Those Jewels, the pride and glory of this Kingdom *… (*Quote Sir John Elliot 1626)
A thrilling exposé of the astonishing gems and jewels of the Tudor and Jacobean Royalty and Nobility, and their fascinating symbolism. The jewellery showed power and wealth as well as having religious and symbolic meaning. The work of jewellers in Cheapside, London, will be highlighted and the important explorations of Vasco de Gama and Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a C17th French gem merchant and traveller, who opened our eyes to the world of gemstones in India.
Light will also be shed on where some of these magnificent jewels are today and their eye watering values, which show our continued fascination and appreciation of historical jewels and their owners. Examples include, La Peregrina Pearl owned by Queen Mary and Elizabeth Taylor, The Middleham Jewel of North Yorkshire and the more recently discovered gold and enameled pendant which is associated with Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
From magnificent diamonds to devotional pendants and from cameos to emerald parrots, a colourful and meaningful feast of jewellery awaits.
Susan Rumfitt has over 30 years in the jewellery industry and is a familiar face on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, where she has served as a specialist for nearly two decades.
She began her career as a jewellery specialist with Christie’s Auctioneers in Glasgow before moving to Phillips in London to head up one of their jewellery departments. In 2006, she founded her own gallery in Harrogate where she lectures regularly on the history of jewellery and gemstones. She is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ and an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society and lectures to Arts Societies worldwide.
Susan joined Fieldings Auctioneers in October 2025 to head up their jewellery department, bringing her deep market insight and television-expertise to their specialist jewellery department.
This talk is funded by Fieldings Auctioneers
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“Those Jewels, the pride and glory of this Kingdom *… (*Quote Sir John Elliot 1626)
A thrilling exposé of the astonishing gems and jewels of the Tudor and Jacobean Royalty and Nobility, and their fascinating symbolism. The jewellery showed power and wealth as well as having religious and symbolic meaning. The work of jewellers in Cheapside, London, will be highlighted and the important explorations of Vasco de Gama and Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a C17th French gem merchant and traveller, who opened our eyes to the world of gemstones in India.
Light will also be shed on where some of these magnificent jewels are today and their eye watering values, which show our continued fascination and appreciation of historical jewels and their owners. Examples include, La Peregrina Pearl owned by Queen Mary and Elizabeth Taylor, The Middleham Jewel of North Yorkshire and the more recently discovered gold and enameled pendant which is associated with Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
From magnificent diamonds to devotional pendants and from cameos to emerald parrots, a colourful and meaningful feast of jewellery awaits.
Susan Rumfitt has over 30 years in the jewellery industry and is a familiar face on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, where she has served as a specialist for nearly two decades.
She began her career as a jewellery specialist with Christie’s Auctioneers in Glasgow before moving to Phillips in London to head up one of their jewellery departments. In 2006, she founded her own gallery in Harrogate where she lectures regularly on the history of jewellery and gemstones. She is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths’ and an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society and lectures to Arts Societies worldwide.
Susan joined Fieldings Auctioneers in October 2025 to head up their jewellery department, bringing her deep market insight and television-expertise to their specialist jewellery department.
This talk is funded by Fieldings Auctioneers
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