Earlier this month, Christie's announced a top-tier auction series scheduled for October: 'The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection', which will feature nearly 1,500 lots from the illustrious couple's San Francisco residence. In a total of five auctions from 20-23 October in New York, significant paintings and rare treasures from China, as well as decorative arts and antiques will be auctioned, with a total value estimated at $180 million. Proceeds from the auction series will benefit the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing the arts and science.
"Though she left us far too soon, I know Ann would be proud that her exquisite eye and unmatched dedication to craftsmanship and scholarship are being shared with the world, and that the philanthropic planning around our art collection is being realized,” said Gordon Getty, Ann's husband, in a statement. “These sales are a continuation of the longstanding philanthropic goals of the Getty family first established by my father, J. Paul Getty.”
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Those who feel that October is too long to wait will have the opportunity to bid on items from Ann Getty's collection as early as 8 June. These specific pieces reflect another of the philanthropist's passions: beautiful jewellery. A total of 23 pieces of jewellery owned by Getty will be called up to the rostrum in the 'Magnificent Jewels' auction in New York, which features twelve very special gems created by jeweller JAR.
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JAR stands for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, who was born in New York in 1943 and has been a jeweller in Paris since 1977. Access to his exclusive salon on the Place Vendôme is only possible through the recommendation of a current client. With its breathtaking unique pieces inspired by flora and fauna, JAR pieces are inspired by by jewelled art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which is why he has sometimes been referred to as the "Fabergé of today". The calling card of his jewels are gemstones in fine pavé arrangements, with the settings often being blackened to bring out the sparkle of the stones.
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Ann Getty was an early customer and patron of JAR and repeatedly provided her jewellery for exhibitions of JAR's work. This was also the case for the first public exhibition on JAR, which took place in London in 2002 and was the definitive breakthrough in collector circles for the jeweller.
In 2013, JAR became the only living gemstone artist to have the honour of presenting his work in a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where Ann Getty sat on the board of directors.
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