.jpg?w=1)
Joseph Clifton Trees (1870-1943) was an oil industry magnate. An avid football player at the University of Pittsburgh, Trees was born near Delmont, Pennsylvania and worked his family’s flour mill and sawmill from a young age. Trees worked for Standard Oil during his college years and after a brief stint in an amateur football league, he and his business partner, Mike Benedum, purchased land in pursuit of oil. The pair went on to develop oil fields both domestically and overseas. Their discoveries in West Texas were a highlight of Trees’ career and contributed significantly to his personal wealth. Today, the Benedum-Trees Building in Pittsburgh, the former headquarters of the Benedum Trees Oil Company, remains a significant historic landmark and an important fixture of the city’s downtown business center. Known as a “true Pitt man,” Trees remained close to his alma mater throughout his life. He sat on the board and was president of the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees and was an important benefactor for the university’s athletic department. His generous contributions funded the construction of the original Trees Gymnasium, Trees Stadium, Trees Field and Trees Hall. Trees also donated funds to Pitt Band, Eberly Hall and Pitt Stadium. Trees married Claudine Willison in 1894 and after she died, was remarried in 1929 to , the former Edith Lehm. The present ring, Lot 161, was the ring given to Lehm upon their engagement.PROPERTY OF A LADY
A DIAMOND RING
Details
A DIAMOND RING
Set with a square-cut diamond, weighing approximately 4.99 carats, flanked on either side by a baguette-cut diamond, ring size 6 1/4, mounted in platinum
Accompanied by report no. 2195297533 dated 20 April 2018 from the GIA Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is I color, VS1 clarity
Set with a square-cut diamond, weighing approximately 4.99 carats, flanked on either side by a baguette-cut diamond, ring size 6 1/4, mounted in platinum
Accompanied by report no. 2195297533 dated 20 April 2018 from the GIA Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is I color, VS1 clarity
Provenance
Joseph Clifton Trees and Edith Lehm Trees