Caitlin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 8,502
This is part of an email exchange I had with Josephine Olley of Bonham's
Hi Caitlin,
Hi Caitlin,
Yes please. Here are a couple of images for you to choose from, including one of Anna Thomson Dodge wearing the pearls. You have permission to use these until the day of sale.
Kind regards
Josephine Olley
Bonhams Press Office, 101 New Bond Street, London W1S 1SR
T: +44 (0)207 468 8229
F: +44 (0)207 468 8209 http://www.bonhams.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Caitlin Williams [mailto:caitlin@pearl-guide.com]
Sent: 02 October 2008 01:08
To: Josephine Olley
Subject: RE: THE MAGNIFICENT AND MYSTERIOUS PEARLS OF ANNA THOMSON DODGE TO BE SOLD BY BONHAMS NEW YORK
Hi Josephine
May I put this on the board? Also if you have a picture, it would really help spread the word about this sale.
Caitlin
-----Original Message-----
From: Josephine Olley [mailto:josephine.olley@bonhams.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 8:54 AM
To: 'info@pearl-guide.com'
Subject: THE MAGNIFICENT AND MYSTERIOUS PEARLS OF ANNA THOMSON DODGE TO BE SOLD BY BONHAMS NEW YORK
THE MAGNIFICENT AND MYSTERIOUS PEARLS OF ANNA THOMSON DODGE TO BE SOLD BY BONHAMS NEW YORK
Did Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, once own this necklace?
On 16 December 2008 at Bonhams' prestigious salerooms on New York City's Madison Avenue, a magnificent three-strand natural pearl necklace is expected to fetch US$500,000-700,000. Comprising 224 pearls and two Cartier diamond clasps, the necklace is currently owned by descendents of the founder of the US motoring company, Dodge Automobiles.
In 1920, Michigan-born Horace E. Dodge bought the pearls from The House of Cartier for his wife Anna Thomson Dodge in the belief that they had once
belonged to Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.
The Michigan-born Horace Dodge was a self-made billionaire. A gifted mechanic, he moved, in 1886, with his brother John to Detroit and later founded Dodge Automobiles - a brand name that is recognised throughout the world today. For a time the Dodge brothers built engines for Henry Ford in a deal that included a share position in the new Ford Motor Company. When the brothers decided to sell their shares to Henry Ford in 1919, each receiving
US$12.5 million from the sale, Horace promised to buy his wife Anna any "earthly thing she wanted". Anna - a Scottish immigrant, born in Dundee - said that she wanted pearls.
Horace agreed and purchased a pearl necklace from Cartier. Anna is thought to have worn the necklace just twice in her lifetime and one of those occasions was for her daughter Delphine's wedding to H R Cromwell, the son of a prominent Philadelphia banker. Anna is said to have dazzled some 3000 guests and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, who played throughout the reception.