.jpg?w=1)
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR SEARLE WHITNEY MCCOLLUM
Remembered for her generous charity, spiritual leadership and sense of style, Eleanor Searle Whitney McCollum led a remarkable life. Born in Plymouth, Ohio in 1908, Eleanor was the daughter of Dr. George James Searle and Bertha Fenner Searle. Even as a young child, Eleanor was musical and talented at performing. After studies at Florida Southern College, she took a daring step, moving to New York City to become an opera singer and to take voice lessons at Columbia University. It was in New York that she met and married her first husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney. They had one son, Cornelius Searle Whitney.
While living in New York and later in wartime Washington, D.C., Mrs. Whitney became increasingly involved in charitable and cultural activities, lending the Whitney name to many causes. She and her husband maintained close relationships with many foreign dignitaries and people of political and cultural status. Eleanor appeared on the 1946 cover of Life magazine, pictured at her Long Island estate. She became known as a leader of style and fashion, continuing her singing career and traveling the world. She sang and spoke at over 8,000 churches, and at presidential, gubernatorial and mayoral breakfasts. She was a soloist with the United States Air Force Band and performed for Billy Graham Ministries. In 1971, Eleanor published an autobiography entitled, "Invitation to Joy". The same year she wrote a commentary for a new edition of the Good News Bible for the American Bible Society, on whose board she served for 47 years.
Eleanor married the legendary Houston oilman, cattle breeder, banker and philanthropist, Leonard F. "Mc" McCollum in 1975. During their 18 years together, and after his death in 1993, Mrs. McCollum continued her tradition of service to the community, including chairing a major Houston benefit at age 88. Later, she launched a historic preservation program in her hometown of Plymouth, Ohio as a tribute to her Ohio heritage and family.
Continuing her love of music, Mrs. McCollum became involved with the Houston Grand Opera. Her longtime support of young operatic artists was honored in the nationwide "Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers- Concert of Arias" of which Renee Fleming and Denyce Graves were former winners. Eleanor's dramatic and heartfelt presentation of the yearly Competition awards were a highlight of the event. In addition to her musical commitments, Mrs. McCollum served on the national board of Paget's Disease Foundation, and was an ambassador-at-large for UNICEF. Her service to the advisory board of ORBIS International, the worldwide sight-saving organization, led her to travel to Morocco on a mission at the age of 91. She was influential in the establishment of The Bone Disease Program of Texas, a combined program of Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center specializing in the treatment of osteoporosis. In 1999, Mrs. McCollum was the recipient of the 26th annual Savvy Award given to Women of Distinction.
Christie's is proud to offer a collection of magnificent jewels from such an extraordinary woman. While the collection represents various jewelers, the majority of Mrs. McCollum's most fabulous jewels were made by the legendary house of Harry Winston. The jeweler, often referred to as the "King of Diamonds" earned his reputation in cutting and selling some of the most important diamonds in history, including the Taylor-Burton, the Star of Sierra Leone and the Hope Diamond. His often one-of-a kind jewels, carefully crafted, utilize only the finest and most well-cut gemstones.
AN UNUSUAL SUITE OF GOLD AND WATERMELON TOURMALINE JEWELRY
Details
AN UNUSUAL SUITE OF GOLD AND WATERMELON TOURMALINE JEWELRY
Comprising a pendant necklace, the watermelon tourmaline plaque enhanced by an old mine-cut diamond, within a textured gold sculpted surround, suspended from a textured and openwork gold bar link neckchain, the clasp suspending a smaller watermelon tourmaline plaque; a ring and a pair of ear pendants en suite, mounted in 18k gold, circa 1965, necklace 29½ ins. (4)
Comprising a pendant necklace, the watermelon tourmaline plaque enhanced by an old mine-cut diamond, within a textured gold sculpted surround, suspended from a textured and openwork gold bar link neckchain, the clasp suspending a smaller watermelon tourmaline plaque; a ring and a pair of ear pendants en suite, mounted in 18k gold, circa 1965, necklace 29½ ins. (4)