The Estate of Mrs. Carole Cramer

Jewelry collection of 1950s singer & actress to hit the auction block
Abell Auction Co. is honored to be representing the contents of the Bel Air estate of Paul & Carole Cramer. Mrs. Cramer was a singer with the Tom Dorsey Big Band during the Swing Era, and her husband, Paul Cramer, was a major Los Angeles land developer.

Much of the Cramer collection was featured in Abell’s October 2017 fine art auction, where many pieces greatly surpassed their estimates. Lot #81, an oil on board painting attributed to James Jacques Joseph Tissot titled “A Couple Stepping Into A Carriage,” sold for more than $22,500; over 11 times the high estimate!

Lot #245 was a rare Louis XV Kingwood Cabinet Vitrine by the late 19th, early 20th century expert French furniture maker Francois Linke. This piece also exceeded $22,500, which was more than three and a half times the high estimate.

The Cramers were avid collectors of fine antique French clocks, many of which were featured in the fall 2017 auction. Lot #600 was a French industrial boiler clock that eventually settled sold for more than $8,200—three and a half times more that its high estimate. Lot #331, an enchanting French gilt bronze and malachite figural mantle clock, circa 1875, almost doubled its low estimate, going for more than $7,600. Finally, lot #596, a French bronze carriage clock with repeater sold for more than $4,700, which was almost six times its high estimate!

There is still more to come from the Cramer estate—Abell’s 2017 holiday Luxury sale will be highlighted by the jewelry collection of Mrs. Carole Cramer. As a singer and actress during the height of Hollywood glamour in the 1940s and 1950s, Mrs. Cramer had an incredible collection of fine jewelry. Her pieces include vintage gold, platinum & precious gem necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings.

One highlight of Mrs. Cramer’s jewelry collection is lot #53, an elegant platinum, diamond and emerald pendant necklace featuring 3.95 total carats of diamonds and a 3.76 carat emerald, estimated at $6,000-8,000. This piece pairs perfectly with lot #54, a pair of platinum, emerald and diamond earrings, with a total emerald carat weight of 33.41 and diamonds weighing 4.86 total carats, also estimated at $6,000-8,000. The collection also features a platinum & diamond cluster ring, weighing 7.14 total carats, estimated at 4,000-6,000 . Lot #32 features an art deco platinum and diamond bracelet with 15.36 carats of diamonds, estimated at $8,000-12,000.

The entire collection is comprised of more than 60 pieces, which can be previewed at the Abell Gallery in Los Angeles from Wednesday, December 6th to Saturday, December 9th and Monday, December 11th from 9 am to 4 pm. The live auction will take place on Tuesday, December 12th at 10 am. For more information about consigning, registration or purchasing, please call us at 323.724.8102.