This lot is offered without reserve.

William Yerrington Dear, Jr. and Thelma Tipson Dear Christie's is pleased to continue our auction of the diverse collection of art and objects formed by William and Thelma Dear. The Dears shared a lifetime appreciating, creating and supporting the arts- which became evident the minute one visited Dearfields (their lovely estate in Morristown, where they lived for half a century). With an appreciation for history, art and nature and without the hand of a decorator, they created a perfect setting to house their English and American furniture, Chinese export porcelains and an academic collection of American paintings. The garden at Dearfields was registered with the Herb Society of America and was featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times. William 'Billy' Dear was an avid sportsman, beginning at Brown University where he lettered in five sports, to ultimately being recognized as the most legendary amateur golfer in New Jersey history. Billy was a member of the USGA, a board member of the NJGA, and belonged to many major golf clubs in the state - where he held course records. Later in life Billy Dear served as the Dean of Students at Fairleigh Dickinson University and he taught golf to high-school students. The NJSGA Boys/Junior Championship is named in his honor. A member of the Junior League and the Colony Club, Thelma lived her youth in a fashion so evocative of the Jazz Age. She appeared on the Broadway stage and the silver screen; she qualified for the Olympics, and was a close friend of Benny Goodman, the 'King of Swing, who recorded several tributes to her. Thelma later became an artist in her own right, through the medium of shell specimens, which she avidly collected and frequently lectured on. Exhibitions of her work (described as 'Shell Angelology') were held at the Newark Museum, the Morris Museum and Seaton Hall University. Billy and Thelma Dear supported many institutions both personally and through the Alice and Leonard Dreyfuss Foundation, including: the Newark Museum, the Morris Museum, Seaton Hall University, Fairleigh Dickenson University, Macculloch Hall, the Montclair Museum, the NJ Caddy Scholarship Fund, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and The Cloisters. We hope you will join us at our forthcoming auctions of additional property from the Dear Collection, including our sales Chinese Export Porcelain, American paintings, and our July sale of Sports Memorabilia, where Christie's will offer one of the finest collections of vintage feather-filled golf-balls ever to come to market.

A GEORGE II SILVER TWO-HANDLED CUP,

LONDON, 1821, MAKER'S MARK INDISTINCT,

Details

A GEORGE II SILVER TWO-HANDLED CUP,
LONDON, 1821, MAKER'S MARK INDISTINCT,
on spreading circular foot with molded band at waist, scroll handles, marked under base
5 3/8in. (13.5cm.) high; 13oz.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

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