Sotheby-Grimm Autumn Sale: Residuals and Reliquaries

Artifact

Lot 412: A mourning brooch of gold filigree and jet. The item contains a concentrated residual of bereavement. It is a singular, high-frequency note of grief, distilled from a widowed countess. The extraction is remarkably clean, with no interference from secondary emotions. 120 to 180 Guineas. Lot 418: A mahogany longcase clock, circa 1840. The vessel houses a heavy, rhythmic residual of inevitable failure. This is a textbook example of the 'Degeneration' style, harvested from a bankrupt peer of the realm. The echo synchronizes with the swing of the pendulum, providing a constant, oppressive atmosphere of dread. 500 to 750 Guineas. Lot 422: A sterling silver hand mirror with an etched acanthus border. The residual is a shimmering, evanescent burst of vanity. It captures the precise instant of a social triumph, specifically the moment of an unexpected introduction to the royal court. A highly decorative acquisition for the discerning host. 200 to 300 Guineas.