A Recluse's Treasure

Generally on Wednesdays I do a post called 'Designer Spotlight' which features some kind of creative mind and their work. I love doing this post because there are so many designers that have inspired me...Not just interior designers and architects, but artists, jewellery designers, clothing designers, furniture designers, you name it. Today, however, I'm going to do some thing a little different. Only because I can't seem to get this story out of my head, so it needs to come out on a post! 

Today's spotlight:Huguette Clark

Huguette Clark was the daughter of
Senator William A. Clark of Montana.

 She passed away in May of 2011 with no next of kin,
so her collection of jewellery
 {valued somewhere between $9 and $12 million}

went up for auction at Christies yesterday in New York. 

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This is the last known photo of Clark, taken in 1930,
who was rarely seen for decades although all her properties
were immaculately maintained. She passed away at the age
of 104 last spring. 

The heiress' collection of jewellery had been locked away in one of

 Christie's bank vaults for more than seven decades. 

You heard me, SEVEN DECADES. 

Because her father was as wealthy as a Rockefeller, Clark was set up in a Fifth Avenue mansion that cost THREE TIMES more than the Yakee Stadium 

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Can you just imagine??

The interiors of her NY childhood mansion were thought to be extremely innovative for it's time (1910). They had electricity and central air conditioning, which was fuelled by seven tons of coal a day, delivered to them by their private subway line. 

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The lavish interiors of Clark's Fifth Avenue mansion.
Can we all please note the tiger rug?
A Hinton obsession!

Huguette's New York apartment includes the entire 8th floor as well as half of the 12th. 

Although she was not been seen here for over 20 years, her belongings remained. 

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It was said that her belongings filled the 42 rooms of New York's largest apartment, but the staff only ever saw her a handful of times. The apartment went on the market in March for $55 million. 

Hugette also had a summer home in Santa Barbara, known as the Bellosguardo Estate. The property served as a summer home for Clark and her mother. According to her great-half-nephew, Andre' Baeyens, everything stopped for her when her mother passed away. The two were very close, said to be best friends. 

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The grand summer house of Huguette Clark

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Huguette's Santa Barbara estate as it is today. Although she had not visited the home since
1958, the property was always impeccably maintained.

And can we just take a moment to enjoy this fabulous view?

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The current view of Huguette's Santa Barbara Bellosguardo Estate,
overlooking Santa Barbara. 

Now, to the fabulous part {or even more fabulous part!}

The Jewellery. 

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The pink cushion cut diamond is thought to be given to Clark by her mother Anna and is worth
an estimated $6-$8 million. The rectangular diamond is worth $2-$3 million. 

The collection is from the 'Gilded Age', one of the best periods for jewellery manufacturing. 

The rare 9 carat pink diamond was the priciest item in the collection, followed by a 19 carat colourless diamond ring. 

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These two diamond bracelets were worn by Clark in her last known photo (see first image).
The Art Deco Cartier diamond and emerald bracelet is valued
between $30, 000 and $70, 000 while the all diamond bracelet is
valued at a whopping $300, 000 to $500, 000. 

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A pair of Cartier emerald, pearl, and diamond earrings.
Estimated to be worth between $30, 000 and $50, 000

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A Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald Tiffany's bracelet c. 1915
valued between $30, 00 and $50, 000 is said to perhaps been
made by Louis Comfort Tiffay, The son of Tiffany & Co.'s
founder. 

So what I've learned is jewellery can actually make you drool. 

Even if it's just on a computer screen. 

I haven't been able to find an update on what these items actually went for at auction but would LOVE to know. If you see anything, please send it my way. 

Hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!

xx A