Summer 2017

2017 Antiques & Fine Art 85 Fig. 2: Rings, by Edward Everett Oakes (1891–1960). Wakefield, Ma., 1947. Platinum, gold, diamond, sapphire. Gift of Barbara Wriston. Fig. 3: Brooch, by Constantin Roësler Franz, Rome, 1840–1860. Shell, gold. Gift of Ralph May. markings, were suspended from the silver cuff to document three generations of the Chace family—cousins and aunts, grandfathers and sisters. This is far more than a love token, even though these coin jewels are often given that name. This bracelet was an heirloom, a wearable family tree. Celebrate features presents for new babies, class rings, and the many ways to say “I love you” with jewelry. Among them are a pair of gold bands (Fig. 5) that Stephen Borkowski and his partner, Wilfrid J. Michaud Jr., fell in love with when they saw them in the window of Tiffany & Co. in Palm Beach, Florida. Once they returned to Boston, they made a trip to Tiffany’s at Copley Place, where they had the jeweler customize each band with their initials and the dates of their decade of life together. When Wilfrid died in 2002, Stephen added another engraving, UBLUD (“united by love until death”), inspired by the classic 1968 movie Mayerling . Elizabeth Gilbert’s parents commissioned a portrait of her holding her silver and coral rattle in 1839 when she was ten months old (Fig. 6). Many believed that coral had protective powers and its smooth texture also made it a popular choice for teething handles on rattles. When conserving the rattle for the exhibition (Fig. 6a), Fran Wilkins, a Mel lon Foundat ion conser vat ion fel low, discovered a fragment of the original coral hidden in the silver rattle. Her re-creation skillfully matched the original coral’s color. Unfortunately the silver end-cap visible in Elizabeth’s portrait disappeared before the rattle came to Historic New England. Tour highlights New Englanders’ love of place and keepsakes of favorite vacation retreats and exotic locales. When naval paymaster Samuel T. Browne returned to Rhode Island from Japan in 1867 he brought an unusual braided straw chain and ivory pendant (Fig. 7) back with him. The oval plaque is set with a realistic silver f ly, complete with gemstone eyes. Browne most likely used the piece as a watch chain and fob but a later owner turned it into a necklace. Remember features examples of mourning gems passed down from generation to generation in memory of loved ones. An unusual double mourning ring (Fig. 8) commemorates husband