Lot 34
A natural pearl and diamond drop pendant
4 December 2017, 15:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$1,452,500 inc. premium
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A natural pearl and diamond drop pendant
composed of a single drop pearl, measuring 14.1mm, to a rose-cut diamond surmount; mounted in platinum; length: 1 1/4in.
Footnotes
Accompanied by GIA report # 2183713732, dated September 26, 2017, stating the pearl as: Natural, Saltwater, no indications of treatment.
Accompanied by special letter from GIA, dated September 26, 2017, concerning the 23.30 x 14.12mm Natural, Saltwater Natural Pearl, from report # 2183713732.
Accompanied by SSEF report #96487, dated November 2, 2017, stating the pearl as: Natural, Saltwater.
Accompanied by an Appendix Letter from SSEF, dated November 2, 2017, stating: "A natural pearl of this size and quality can be considered rare and exception."
Born and raised in New York State, Thompson was the daughter of Myron Holley. Holley was elected Governor of New York State in 1855. At that time the family took up residence in Albany and that is where she met her future husband, Frederick Ferris Thompson. The couple married in 1857 in Canadaigua, New York. The Thompsons became generous benefactors to many organizations and established themselves as philanthropists. Mrs. Thompson was one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a great benefactor to the Bronx Zoo. After the death of her husband in 1899, she continued to donate generously to civic, religious, health and educational institutions including Williams, Vassar and Teachers Colleges. She established and built the F.F. Thompson Hospital in 1903.
Mary Clark Thompson also had an interest in preserving the history of Native Americans in the New York area. She had a love of plants and flowers which are reflected in any one of her nine formal gardens at her summer home in Sonnenberg and often opened them for public enjoyment. She died in July 1923 at the age of 87. Today, her summer home, Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, is preserved and operated as a museum. The Mary Clark Thompson Medal is named in her honor. It has been awarded since 1921 and honors work in geology and paleontology.
