In 1987, Yvonne Oriel found her granddaughter playing with two of her Swarovski crystal hedgehogs. ‘Playing’ is probably the wrong description; she was banging them together. Clearly Yvonne’s collection needed a bit more protection, so she started looking for a display cabinet and then gave up smoking to get the cash to buy one when she found it.
Then she started filling the cabinet with more Swarovski crystal figures, until she had 108 of them. Yvonne passed away at the age of 90 and her collection, which is estimated at around $40,000, will go up for auction at Potteries Auctions in the UK on September 11.
“The Swarovski collection didn’t just bring my grandmother joy – it prolonged her life,” says granddaughter Leanne Gething, who has consigned the collection. “Those hedgehogs represent so much more than crystal figures. They represent the moment beautiful objects inspired a healthier choice.”
And yes, the hedgehogs are included in the sale, in a small group lot with an estimate of around $200. Other highlights include an elegant paradise roller bird (estimated at $400-$800), a kingfisher from the Paradise Birds collection (estimated at $600-$1200), and coveted Disney figurines including Mickey Sorcerer and Daisy Duck (expected to sell for $700-$1200 each).
