GOLD, GARNET, SEED PEARL AND ENAMEL NECKLACE AND PAIR OF PENDANT-EARRINGS, CARLO GIULIANO | 黃金鑲翠榴石配小顆珍珠及琺瑯彩項鏈及吊耳環一對，Carlo Giuliano

Property From the Collection of Dr. Susan Weber

LOTS 493, 494 & 587-591

Dr. Susan Weber has inhabited many roles: published author, film producer, curator, educator, advisor and philanthropist. To many, however, she is the patron saint of Decorative Arts. With years of experience and education to guide her, she founded the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture in New York. The Bard Graduate Center is one of the few institutions in the United States offering an advanced degree in the decorative arts, and since opening doors in 1991, it has significantly elevated the profile and understanding of objects. The BGC is guided by the principle that objects, more so than the fine arts, serve to document people’s lives; they are not simply things of beauty, but artifacts.  

When asked about her collecting philosophy by the New York Times, Dr. Weber said “I don’t collect, I have things I love.” More than two decades later, Sotheby’s posed the same question, and received a similar answer:

I have been collecting jewelry since I was a teenager. For the most part I purchased English revival pieces until the world of Castellani and Giuliano was brought to my attention by Geoffrey Munn at Wartski of London. Collecting jewelry was a way to learn more about these historic creations and I purchased many fine items from dealers, auction houses, and dealers. I only bought pieces that were highly wearable, aesthetically pleasing, and in excellent condition. Over the past twenty-five years I have had the pleasure of working on and hosting a series of jewelry exhibitions at the Bard Graduate Center including “Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry.” The works I have decided to sell have given me much pleasure over the years and I hope that they will bring their new owners the same enjoyment.

Susan Weber