Once in a Lifetime Opportunity: Herdle Sisters’ Jewelry at Art & Treasures
Submitted by Lois Sumberg, Gallery Council member
Diamonds, pearls, coral, sterling silver, 14K gold, braided hair! See them all used in wonderful jewelry bequeathed to the MAG by the iconic Herdle sisters, Gertrude and Isabel, and for sale at Art & Treasures.
Collectors can drool over a 14K gold brooch designed by Rochester’s own Ron Pearson (above) or the bird pin (above) and labradorite rings by Georg Jensen. And what about the Victorian braided hair necklace. What collector wouldn’t die to have it! And there is much more, a nearly 1K diamond ring set in yellow gold, a man’s gold pocket watch by Hampden Dueber (above), a lady’s 14K gold pendant watch, I could go on and on. But the best thing to do is to come to the sale and see it all.
If you don’t know anything about the Herdle sisters, suffice it to say their influence on the MAG’s growth from an infant gallery to an important museum was monumental. Fully half of MAG’s 11,000 works were acquired on their watch. Their tenure at the Memorial Art Gallery spanned fifty years. Gertrude took over as the MAG’s second director in 1922 after the untimely death of her father, the MAG’s first director. She retired in 1962. In 1932, her sister, Isabel, joined her as Assistant Director in charge of exhibitions, programs and collections and retired in 1972.
Visit the MAG timeline to read more about the Herdle sisters.
If you like what you see, come to the Art & Treasures Sale and a piece of jewelry with a history can be yours.
Art & Treasures
June 25-28
Sponsored by the Gallery Council of the Memorial Art Gallery, all sales benefit the Memorial Art Gallery.
Posted: June 12th, 2015 under Gallery Council.
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