Charming John Rubel Ballerina Brooch Enchants at Auction

Name: Charming John Rubel Ballerina Brooch Enchants at Auction
Uploaded: 2026-08-28T16:34:03.405Z
Duration: 4 min 11 s
Channel: Antique Auction
Description: Born from a 1940s collaboration between Van Cleef & Arpels and designer John Rubel, the ballerina jewels captured grace and optimism at the height of wartime uncertainty, each figure conceived as its own tiny character in motion. This John Rubel ballerina brooch didn't just enchant bidders it sent the room into a bidding frenzy, selling for $270,000 against a high estimate of just $30,000.

Antique Auction

1 Video View·Aug 28, 2026

Born from a 1940s collaboration between Van Cleef & Arpels and designer John Rubel, the ballerina jewels captured grace and optimism at the height of wartime uncertainty, each figure conceived as its own tiny character in motion. This John Rubel ballerina brooch didn't just enchant bidders it sent the room into a bidding frenzy, selling for $270,000 against a high estimate of just $30,000.

And dancing along with her, our Spanish dancer now, again by John Rubell, and again, interest in this. We'll just start straight away here at $38,000 here in the book at 38, at 38,000. At 38,000 here with me, who'd like to say 40? At 38,000, 40,000, Frank, there we go. At 40, and I'm out. It's Frank's bid at $40,000. 42, though, online. 45, Louisa, is yours. I have 48 with Catherine. Straight away, 50 with Frank. On Frank's phone, at 50, a lot of Fs. 55, online, but 60, Catherine, with you, at 60. On Catherine's phone, at 60. It's Catherine's phone, at 60. 65, with Stuart. 70, with Catherine. Not yours, online. On the phone first, Ms. Beckett, at 70. Thank you. Online, you're welcome, at 75, which you will take with a new online bidder. I have 80 already, Frank. 85, Ms. Beckett, is yours. 90, I have Louisa online already, at 90. At 95, with Catherine, at 95,000. $100,000 to bid online. 110, already, Catherine, 110, online. 120, though, is yours, on the phone. 130, online, coming in on top, at 130,000. 140, Catherine, is yours. At 140,000, with Catherine. 150, online. I feel like we've been here before. At 150, 160, now you're coming in, at 160. Back with Catherine. Online, no longer yours. It's on Catherine's phone, at $160,000. Try again, you will. 170,000, it's online, but 180, with Catherine. Catherine's bid at 180,000, at 180. 190, the bid is back online. $200,000, with Ms. Beckett, at 200,000. Catherine's bid at 200,000, at $200,000. 220, online, ahead of you all, on the phone, at 220. 250, Stuart, I took with Catherine first. Catherine, the bid is yours, at 250. At 250, with Catherine. Should we try 280, online? At $250,000, Catherine Beckett, the bid is yours, at 250. Stuart, try one more. At 250, Catherine, the bid is yours. The hammer's up. Stuart, online, it's ahead of you both. It's with Catherine, at 250,000. Catherine, I have 260, with Stuart. You are welcome to 270, at 260, with Stuart. 270 is yours, Ms. Beckett, at 270. Stuart, at 270, with Catherine, would you like 280? At 270, we're all done. At 270, then Catherine, the bid's yours, and we're selling at $270,000. Stuart, last chance. At 270, 270,000. Catherine, 394.