Bonhams to Auction Alex Calder Family Jewelry
Five bespoke Calder pieces made for relatives will be sold at auction after nearly 70 years in private hands.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Jewelry
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Bonhams will auction five pieces of jewelry that Alex Calder made for members of his family, with the sale taking place in the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale on November 19. The collection has remained in private hands for nearly 70 years and is valued by Bonhams at nearly $300,000.
Why it matters
The sale brings rarely seen works from Calder's roughly 1,800 handcrafted jewelry pieces to the market. Calder refused every offer to mass-produce his jewelry, making these bespoke family commissions unusually scarce.
Bonhams estimates the necklace made for Margaret Calder Hayes, executed circa 1940, will sell for $100,000 to $150,000, and the sculptural silver earrings given to Peggy for $40,000 to $60,000. The estimates are pre-sale projections, and final hammer prices have not been determined.
The players
Bonhams
Bonhams is a London-founded international auction house that is opening a new flagship in New York City.
Alex Calder
Alex Calder was an American sculptor and jewelry designer, son of the artist Alexander Calder, known for producing about 1,800 handcrafted jewelry pieces.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner is an American model and media personality who wore Calder's silver earrings at the Venice Film Festival.
The details
Calder made each piece as a bespoke gift for a specific woman in his family, and Kendall Jenner recently wore a pair of his hand-hammered silver earrings at the Venice Film Festival in September. The pieces will be on view at Bonhams' new N.Y.C. flagship from November 7 before going to auction.
Timeline
Circa 1940: The necklace for Margaret Calder Hayes is executed.
2008: The Met holds its first museum exhibition of Calder's jewelry.
September 2026: Kendall Jenner wears Calder earrings at the Venice Film Festival.
November 7, 2026: The pieces go on view at Bonhams' N.Y.C. flagship.
November 19, 2026: The pieces cross the block in the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale.
Culture Shift
The auction extends the recognition Calder's jewelry received when The Met held its first museum exhibition dedicated to it in 2008. Calder's refusal to mass-produce his work marks a departure from the wider jewelry market toward scarce, bespoke pieces.
New Yorkers can view the Calder pieces in person at Bonhams' new flagship from November 7 before the auction. Collectors and jewelry enthusiasts have a rare opportunity to see bespoke family commissions by an artist who refused to mass-produce his work.
The takeaway
Bespoke jewelry from an artist's own family is rarely offered to the public, so viewing the pieces before the sale offers a closer look at Calder's craft. Those interested can plan a visit to the flagship from November 7.
What happens next
The pieces go on view at Bonhams' N.Y.C. flagship on November 7, 2026, and cross the block in the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale on November 19, 2026.
Further reading
For more on fine adornment, explore our Jewelry coverage of collectible and designer pieces.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Robb Report.
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