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Lot Essay
Christie’s is honored to offer the present lot on behalf of the family of the original owner, David O. Selznick.
Gone with the Wind: David O. Selznick and John Hay "Jock" Whitney — A Friendship That Changed Hollywood
Few friendships in Hollywood history proved as consequential as that between producer David O. Selznick and financier John Hay "Jock" Whitney. Theirs was a partnership built on mutual trust, shared ambition, and a genuine personal bond that would ultimately give the world one of the greatest films ever made.
Whitney was instrumental in making Selznick's dream of independence, a reality, providing the financial backing and unwavering confidence that allowed Selznick International Pictures to come to life. Where others saw risk, Whitney saw vision. When Selznick initially hesitated over purchasing the rights to Margaret Mitchell's original novel Gone with the Wind, it was Whitney who stepped forward with characteristic boldness, telling his friend that if he wouldn't buy it, he would — such was his belief in both the project and the man. That vote of confidence was all Selznick needed.
What followed was three years of extraordinary effort — a grueling, turbulent production that cycled through multiple writers and three directors, considered over 1,400 women for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, and ultimately cost $4,250,000, an almost unthinkable sum for an independent studio.
Throughout the long and demanding production of Gone with the Wind, Whitney remained Selznick's most enthusiastic supporter, approving every creative decision and standing firmly behind what many in Hollywood considered an audacious gamble. The result was a triumph for the ages — the highest-grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation, and a landmark of American cinema.
The warmth of their friendship is perhaps best captured in a small but deeply personal gesture. Shortly after the film's release, Whitney presented Selznick with a watch, inscribed in his own handwriting: "David — Xmas, 1939. Praise de Lawd. Jock." The inscription, noted in a 1940 Time magazine article, speaks volumes — two old friends sharing a moment of pure, joyful relief and triumph after years of hard work and bold belief in one another. It is the kind of message that passes only between those who have truly been through something great together.
Selznick and Whitney's story is a reminder that behind every landmark achievement, there is often a friendship at its foundation — one defined not merely by business, but by loyalty, encouragement, and the shared thrill of proving the doubters wrong.
The Tank Normale
Introduced in 1917, the Cartier Tank Normale stands as one of the most important and enduring wristwatch designs ever created, widely regarded as the very first “Tank” wristwatch produced by Cartier. Conceived by Louis Cartier during the First World War, the watch drew its inspiration from the aerial view of the newly developed Renault FT-17 military tanks, whose parallel treads are echoed in the watch’s distinctive brancards flanking the case. Revolutionary in both form and proportion, the Tank Normale departed from the ornate aesthetics of early 20th century watchmaking in favor of clean geometric lines and balanced symmetry, establishing a timeless Art Deco design language that would shape wristwatch design for generations to come. Elegant, architectural, and unmistakably modern, the Tank Normale remains the foundational model of Cartier’s celebrated Tank collection and one of the Maison’s most iconic creations.
Gone with the Wind: David O. Selznick and John Hay "Jock" Whitney — A Friendship That Changed Hollywood
Few friendships in Hollywood history proved as consequential as that between producer David O. Selznick and financier John Hay "Jock" Whitney. Theirs was a partnership built on mutual trust, shared ambition, and a genuine personal bond that would ultimately give the world one of the greatest films ever made.
Whitney was instrumental in making Selznick's dream of independence, a reality, providing the financial backing and unwavering confidence that allowed Selznick International Pictures to come to life. Where others saw risk, Whitney saw vision. When Selznick initially hesitated over purchasing the rights to Margaret Mitchell's original novel Gone with the Wind, it was Whitney who stepped forward with characteristic boldness, telling his friend that if he wouldn't buy it, he would — such was his belief in both the project and the man. That vote of confidence was all Selznick needed.
What followed was three years of extraordinary effort — a grueling, turbulent production that cycled through multiple writers and three directors, considered over 1,400 women for the role of Scarlett O'Hara, and ultimately cost $4,250,000, an almost unthinkable sum for an independent studio.
Throughout the long and demanding production of Gone with the Wind, Whitney remained Selznick's most enthusiastic supporter, approving every creative decision and standing firmly behind what many in Hollywood considered an audacious gamble. The result was a triumph for the ages — the highest-grossing film of all time, adjusted for inflation, and a landmark of American cinema.
The warmth of their friendship is perhaps best captured in a small but deeply personal gesture. Shortly after the film's release, Whitney presented Selznick with a watch, inscribed in his own handwriting: "David — Xmas, 1939. Praise de Lawd. Jock." The inscription, noted in a 1940 Time magazine article, speaks volumes — two old friends sharing a moment of pure, joyful relief and triumph after years of hard work and bold belief in one another. It is the kind of message that passes only between those who have truly been through something great together.
Selznick and Whitney's story is a reminder that behind every landmark achievement, there is often a friendship at its foundation — one defined not merely by business, but by loyalty, encouragement, and the shared thrill of proving the doubters wrong.
The Tank Normale
Introduced in 1917, the Cartier Tank Normale stands as one of the most important and enduring wristwatch designs ever created, widely regarded as the very first “Tank” wristwatch produced by Cartier. Conceived by Louis Cartier during the First World War, the watch drew its inspiration from the aerial view of the newly developed Renault FT-17 military tanks, whose parallel treads are echoed in the watch’s distinctive brancards flanking the case. Revolutionary in both form and proportion, the Tank Normale departed from the ornate aesthetics of early 20th century watchmaking in favor of clean geometric lines and balanced symmetry, establishing a timeless Art Deco design language that would shape wristwatch design for generations to come. Elegant, architectural, and unmistakably modern, the Tank Normale remains the foundational model of Cartier’s celebrated Tank collection and one of the Maison’s most iconic creations.