Daniela Mascetti

Daniela Mascetti joined Sotheby’s in 1980, later opening the firm’s Jewellery department in Milan. Now based in Geneva, she serves as Chairman Jewellery, Europe and is one of the field’s most experienced scholars specialising in the history of jewellery. Daniela has been closely involved in Sotheby’s most important jewellery sales and has contributed to the research vital for the sales of historic collections, notably the Royal Jewels from the Bourbon Parma family (including treasures from Queen Marie Antoinette), the Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor and the collections of Thurn und Taxis, Elton John and Gina Lollobrigida.

In 2006 Ms Mascetti provided research for the auction "Castellani & Giuliano: The Judith H. Siegel Collection" which was held in New York. The auction was a landmark event and reinvigorated the interest in and demand for revivalist jewels.

Ms Mascetti regularly lectures on jewellery and runs Sotheby’s Institute of Art Jewellery Courses. She has also published several books on the subject. She is co-author, with David Bennett, of the best-selling book Understanding Jewellery - a reference work for professionals and collectors, translated into many languages and re-edited several times since its first appearance in 1989. Together they have also co-written Celebrating Jewellery, a magnificent volume published in October 2012, illustrating some of the greatest and most iconic pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. With Amanda Triossi, she has co-authored Bulgari, The Necklace from Antiquity to the Present and Earrings from Antiquity to the Present.

Based in London until 2011, in 2012 Ms Mascetti joined the Geneva Jewellery Department. As a Chairman, Jewellery she travels extensively, sourcing jewels and promoting Sotheby’s international Jewellery sales worldwide. She graduated in Archaeology from the University of Milan, where she developed the analytical skills required for the dating, researching and valuing of historical jewels.