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AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
THE
ESTATE OF LAURA JOHNSON
A native of Romania, Laura Johnson was a popular member of
New York society, and a generous contributor who maintained
discretion in her many philanthropies. During the 1950s and
60s, she and her husband, Raymond Johnson, an executive at
Saks Fifth Avenue, frequented such legendary nightspots as
El Morroco and the Stork Club, in addition to numerous charity
balls. Through the years, Ms. Johnson became well-known for
her flamboyant character and unique style in fashion, as well
as for her extensive collection of stunning jewelry. In her
obituary in The New York Times, photographer and fashion chronicler
Bill Cunningham said of Laura Johnson, "Her life was
a banquet, and she wanted her friends to share it."
The
Collection of Laura Johnson features over fifty lots of extraordinary
brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces and other jewelry notable
for their bold design and color. Highlights include a Van
Cleef & Arpels turquoise and diamond pendant necklace
and earrings set (est. $18,000-24,000), a Chaumet emerald
and diamond spray brooch (est. $20,000-30,000), a Tiffany
& Co. multistrand cultured pearl torsade with multicolored
stone clasp set with a large pear-shaped tanzanite (est. $20,000-25,000),
and a Cartier lady's platinum and diamond wristwatch
(est. $20,000-25,000).
THE ESTATE OF HELEN HIRSHON
The jewelry collection of Helen Hirshon was assembled during
her marriage to Walter Hirshon, a partner in the Wall Street
firm of Hirshon Roth and a respected member of the stock exchange.
The Hirshons were avid travelers. For many years, they summered
in Biarritz and wintered in Barbados and Palm Beach, in addition
to maintaining homes in Manhattan and Sands Point on Long
Islandís North Shore.
Helen
Hirshon cultivated a great many interests in her life. She
was an enthusiastic connoisseur of fine porcelain, paintings
and books, as well as a popular hostess well-known for her
keen intellect and quick sense of humor. A true outdoorswoman,
Mrs. Hirshon was a familiar figure on the greens at Sands
Point Golf Club and an avid gardener, with hundreds of rose
bushes gracing her Sands Point home. The Helen Hirshon jewelry
collection reflects Mrs. Hirshonís sophisticated appreciation
of quality, color and design.
Highlighting
the Hirshon jewelry are a selection of David Webb
pieces, including an important emerald and diamond ring set
with an octagonal-cut fine green emerald of approximately
12.59 carats (est. $65,000-85,000), an elegant star ruby ring
set with a cabochon ruby of approximately 26 carats (est.
$40,000-50,000) and a pair of colorful ruby, diamond and emerald
earclips (est. $12,000-18,000). The collection also features
a stunning four-strand cultured pearl necklace with an elegant
diamond clasp (est. $25,000-35,000), as well as a selection
of fine gentlemenís dress sets and cufflinks.
THE ESTATE OF PERDITA SCHAFFNER
The jewelry collection inherited by Perdita Schaffner originally
belonged originally to Lady Hannah Glover Ellerman, wife of
Sir John Reeves Ellerman (1862-1933), a shipping tycoon reputed
to be the richest man in Britain. Lady Ellerman's exquisite
jewels passed to her daughter, Bryher, an accomplished author,
publisher, film critic and philanthropist. Bryher was also
companion to American poet Hilda Doolittle (H.D.), whose daughter
Perdita she adopted. On Bryher's death, ownership of the jewelry
collection passed to her adoptive daughter, Perdita Schaffner,
a writer living in New York City and East Hampton, and wife
of literary agent John Valentine Schaffner. Interestingly,
during World War II, Ms. Schaffner worked at an English country
manor called Bletchley Park where teams of translators pored
over scraps of intercepted Nazi messages decoded by the top-secret
"Enigma Machine". Having inherited the collection,
Mrs. Schaffner seldom wore the jewelry, and most of the pieces
remained in a Swiss bank vault until after her death in 2001.
This remarkable collection, having originated in fabulous
wealth and rested in obscurity for over six decades, comes
to the market for the first time in over a century.
Highlights
of the Perdita Schaffner collection include two Victorian
diamond butterfly brooches en tremblant, circa 1860, and a
lovely diamond corsage brooch en tremblant, circa 1860 (est.
$4,000-6,000 each). The collection also features an elegant
Victorian diamond rivière necklace set with 56 diamonds
totaling approximately 23.50 carats (est. $15,000-20,000).
PROPERTY FROM OTHER OWNERS
In addition to the three important collections, the sale will
also feature property from other a variety of other owners.
Highlights include an elegant pair of diamond wave design
brooches by David Webb (est. $12,000-18,000). Among
the selection of fine objets de vertu is a pair of gold and
lucite cigarette boxes made for British actress Gertrude
Lawrence by Seaman Schepps. Each cylindrical lucite
box is mounted with two removable gold bands, set with assorted
charms (est. $10,000-15,000).
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