Jeannette Edris Rockefeller was born in Seattle in 1918. After spending her early years traveling the world and pursuing education in New York at Finch College and the University of Washington, she married Winthrop Rockefeller in 1956, who was later elected as Governor of Arkansas. Since becoming the First Lady of the state, Mrs. Rockefeller made an unwavering commitment to philanthropy that lasted throughout her lifetime. Credited by President Clinton with helping to bring the “New South” to Arkansas, she stood as a leader and guiding light for other women of the era. Advocating the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Rockefeller controversially supported a memorial service on the steps of the Arkansas capital for Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968, which helped defuse a tense moment in time. Further, serving as president of the National Mental Health Association and on the President’s Commission on Mental Health under Presidents Johnson and Nixon, she extended her impact beyond Arkansas, bettering the lives of many. In later life, she brought her drive and altruism with her when she moved to Palm Springs, California where she headed the AIDS Assistance Project.

Among the various charitable causes upheld by Mrs. Rockefeller was the arts. Serving as an ardent advocate and board member of the Arkansas Arts Center for nearly three decades, she played a pivotal role in supporting the arts and culture in Arkansas through the continuous development of the institution.

At the core of her appreciation for the arts was her remarkable connoisseurship, which was particularly notable in her exquisite jewelry collection. Mrs. Rockefeller maintained a wardrobe of pieces acquired through various times of her life, each of which speaks to the important designs of their respective time periods. The following lots 1177 - 1179 were gifted to Jeanette from her husband, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller and have remained in the family since that time. Christie’s is delighted to be offering jewels that not only reflect Mrs. Rockefeller’s personal elegance and taste, but also show a glimpse into a bygone era of grace and sophistication.