[Sponsored Article] The haute jeweller and prodigy cellist Anna Hu’s rises to stratospheric heights as she set four world auction records with her stunning jewels. Crowning a decade of achievements Born in Taiwan and based in New York, Anna Hu composed a decade of success on a crescendo, akin to a four-movement symphony finale. Her “Dunhuang Pipa Necklace” from the Silk Road Music Collection, commissioned by Sotheby’s, sold for a sensational HK$45,348,000 (US$5,780,056) at the auction house’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong on October 7, 2019. These establishments firmly established Anna, who only set up her namesake brand ANNA HU Haute Joaillerie in 2007, as foremost among her peers. The first movement – a taste of auction success Anna’s foray into the auction world started in 2010 when her “Duchess Hibiscus” ring achieved success by selling above its estimate at the Christie’s auction in Dubai. Considered a dark horse for the sale, the exquisite ring features a three-dimensional flower shaped like a blooming hibiscus with a ruby centre stone and diamonds on the petals reminiscent of dewdrops, capturing the fleeting beauty and eternal vitality of nature. The second movement – scoring a first world auction record Her success with Christie’s continued in 2013 when she broke the world record for a Chinese contemporary jewellery artist with her “Orpheus” jadeite ring. Achieving over five times its estimate, it sold for HK$20,030,000 (US$2,592,663) to an international collector at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Hong Kong in May 2013. The record price realised also established Anna as the youngest contemporary jewellery artist whose creation scored the highest estimate multiples at auction, proving the renown and immense collectability of her high jewellery. Featured prominently on the inside back cover of the auction catalogue, the “Orpheus” ring exudes exquisite artistry. The heart of the ring features a magnificent jadeite cabochon in an intense emerald green of brilliant translucency. The extremely rare and natural jadeite solitaire weighs an impressive 45.39 carats and is set in an embrace of pavé white diamonds. A drop of briolette emerald, shaped like a note, adds musicality to the design and pays tribute to Anna’s musical background. Intricate details in exotic yellow and pink diamonds with a total weight of 4.51carats mounted in 18k gold of white, pink, and yellow harken back to Anna’s roots in French haute joaillerie and classical Chinese art (Tang sancai). The third movement – smashing two world auction records in one go Hot on the heels of this accomplishment, Anna upped the ante six months later by breaking two world auction records at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva in November 2013. Her “Côte d’Azur Brooch” sold for CHF4,197,000 (US$4,568,163 / approx. HK$35,420,000), smashing the world auction record for a contemporary jewellery artist previously held by JAR. It also achieved the highest auction price per carat for a Burmese sapphire at US$78,400. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece features a cushion-shaped Burmese sapphire, weighing 58.29 carats set within a pavé-set diamond floral branch decorated with a treasure trove of diamonds, precious and fine gemstones. Aside from positioning ANNA HU at the pinnacle of international contemporary jewellery, the world auction records also marked a significant milestone for Christie’s since the venerable auction house held its first jewellery sale in 1766. The fourth movement – setting world auction record again Anna broke the world auction record yet again for a contemporary Chinese jewellery artist in 2019 with the “Dunhuang Pipa Necklace” at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeiteauction in Hong Kong on October 7. The realised price of HK$45,348,000 (US$5,780,056) refreshed the world record for the highest price paid at auction for a contemporary Chinese jewellery creation. Starring on the front cover of the auction catalogue, the “Dunhuang Pipa Necklace” is inspired by the Dunhuang Mogao grottoes which symbolised the Silk Road’s starting point. Featuring a jaw-dropping 100.02-carat fancy intense yellow diamond as the main stone, the necklace is adorned with an array of sparkling white and yellow diamonds. The total stone weight is a hefty 160.89 carats. This one-of-a-kind collectable once again reinforces ANNA HU’s rarefied position in the contemporary jewellery art universe, with these stunning gems collected by world-class connoisseurs going down in history for eternity. Global recognition Aside from world auction triumphs for contemporary jewellery, Anna also notched up other notable records for her brand over the past 12 years. She was the first contemporary jewellery artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts at the Louvre in Paris, and the youngest jewellery artist invited to participate in the La Biennale Paris. Besides, Anna distinguishes by being the first Asian contemporary jewellery artist with work collected by Russia’s State Historical Museum. And in 2018, she became the first Asian jewellery artist admitted to the prestigious Le Comité Vendome Paris, alongside the most renowned jewellery Maisons such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bucheron, Buccellati, Bulgari, Chanel, Chaumet, Graff and others. Such achievements further burnish her credentials and set Anna on a path to jewellery greatness.
