A Treasured History: The "Two Matilda" Sale

(IDEX Online) - A vast family-owned collection of almost 400 jewelry and other items, many by Faberge, Cartier and Tiffany, is expected to sell for tens of millions of dollars when it is auctioned by Christie's New York next month.

The Stream Family Collection was assembled initially by Matilda Geddings Gray (1885-1971), an oil heiress and major art collector from Louisiana, USA, and later by the niece she mentored, Matilda Gray Stream (1924-2023).

The collection features what Christie's describes as "one of the world's finest groups of Fabergé, together with an extraordinary trove of jewelry", plus furniture, silver, porcelain, glass, antiquities, and paintings.

Among the many highlights of the sale is a Fabergé Gem-set Silver Rhinoceros Automaton, circa 1900 (estimate: $300,000 to $500,000).

The jewelry in the collection spans antique through mid-century, with a strong emphasis on Art Deco.

It is anchored by 49.91-carat very light green-yellow diamond ring, VS1-clarity, old European brilliant-cut (estimate: $500,000 to $700,000), a Tiffany & Co. Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet (estimate: $300,000 to $500,000) and a Cartier coral, diamond and gold bracelet (estimate $50,000 to $70,000).

Matilda Geddings Gray took over the family's oil, timber, ranch, and land enterprise in western Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, in 1921. 

In 1933, she began acquiring Faberge, at a time when the artist's name was still little known in the US. Her acquisitions included four Imperial eggs, as well as the celebrated Lilies of the Valley Basket, widely regarded as Faberge's floral masterpiece.

A Treasured History: The Stream Family Collection, a live auction, takes place on 10 June. An accompanying online sale is open for bids through June 17.

Pic shows the 49.91-carat diamond ring.