An elaborate Henry Dunay sculpture, Lost Love, saw the highest bids in Bonhams' Rare Minerals and Lapidary Works of Art auction on May 21 in Los Angeles.
 Dunay, an American goldsmith and jeweller, has created works for the likes of Hilary Clinton |
The diamond, aquamarine, gold and platinum sculpture made $170,500 as the top lot of the sale. It was handcrafted by the renowned jeweller between 2005 and 2006 and features a female figure made entirely from 18k gold.
Henry Dunay is a well-respected American goldsmith and jewellery designer, best known for his scratched surface technique, which is known as Sabi. He has produced pieces for many high-profile figures, including a Cynnabar ring for Hilary Clinton.
His company, Henry Dunay Designs, and its inventory were auctioned for $50m in December 2009.
Another lapidary work by Dunay, a rock crystal quartz and yellow gold mounted presentation bowl shaped like a boat, also sold well, achieving $68,500.
 The model pays tribute to the most beautiful dragster ever created |
The second highest bids of the sale were seen by a unique scale model of the famed Greer-Black-Prudhomme Dragster, which was raced by Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and is considered the most beautiful dragster ever built.
Carved from Tanzanian ruby and detailed with black obsidian, the model pays tribute to the full scale version's beauty, with a polished rock crystal quartz windscreen and movable fittings composed of 18k gold vermeil. It sold for $146,500.
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