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Lot Essay
Kate Wilson Taylor Winthrop (1839-1925) was born to the prominent New York merchant and banking family headed by her father, Moses Taylor. A close business partner of John Jacob Astor, Moses Taylor owned shipping, railroad, import and banking companies. In 1847, Taylor was one of only twenty-five millionaires in New York City. Generous with his wealth, Taylor donated $250,000 for the foundation of a hospital to benefit iron and coal workers on the railroads he owned. The Moses Taylor Hospital still operates today in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Taylor built an impressive fortune that would sustain his heirs for generations and eventually contribute to and save the fortunes of many other prominent New York families during times of financial distress.
In 1859 his daughter, Kate Wilson Taylor, married Robert Winthrop, direct descendant of Massachusetts Bay Colony founder and governor, John Winthrop. Robert Winthrop became closely involved in his father-in-law’s businesses, joining the coal, railroad and banking companies Taylor controlled. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop were among the largest shareholders of National City Bank of New York, which would later become known as Citibank. Mr. Winthrop was also admitted to the New York Stock Exchange, a prestigious achievement for any businessman of the time.
Apart from their prolific business ventures, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop were prominent on the New York social scene. After marrying, the couple lived on the fashionable lower Fifth Avenue and later moved to Murray Hill, as was customary for families of their social standing. Mr. Winthrop was a member of numerous gentlemen’s social clubs including the Union, Knickerbocker and Metropolitan clubs. Mrs. Winthrop regularly socialized with Edith Wharton and Sara Delano Roosevelt. This friendship marked the beginning of a warm and longstanding relationship between the Winthrop and the Roosevelt families that would grow in future generations.
In celebration of Mrs. Winthrop’s 80th birthday on February 4th, 1919, her five surviving children gifted her a Belle Époque diamond necklace, Lot 38. Following Mrs. Winthrop’s death in 1925, her son Beekman Winthrop purchased his siblings’ shares of the necklace and gifted it to his wife, Melza Riggs Wood Winthrop. After Melza’s death, Beekman gave the necklace to his niece Dorothy Amory Winthrop as a wedding gift.
The Winthrop women wore and cherished this necklace throughout their lives. Demonstrating its importance to her, Kate Winthrop chose to wear the necklace for her portrait by artist Henry Harris Brown. Since Dorothy’s death, the necklace has remained with the family. Lot 38 presents the opportunity for a new collector to own this long-treasured and striking necklace.
In 1859 his daughter, Kate Wilson Taylor, married Robert Winthrop, direct descendant of Massachusetts Bay Colony founder and governor, John Winthrop. Robert Winthrop became closely involved in his father-in-law’s businesses, joining the coal, railroad and banking companies Taylor controlled. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop were among the largest shareholders of National City Bank of New York, which would later become known as Citibank. Mr. Winthrop was also admitted to the New York Stock Exchange, a prestigious achievement for any businessman of the time.
Apart from their prolific business ventures, Mr. and Mrs. Winthrop were prominent on the New York social scene. After marrying, the couple lived on the fashionable lower Fifth Avenue and later moved to Murray Hill, as was customary for families of their social standing. Mr. Winthrop was a member of numerous gentlemen’s social clubs including the Union, Knickerbocker and Metropolitan clubs. Mrs. Winthrop regularly socialized with Edith Wharton and Sara Delano Roosevelt. This friendship marked the beginning of a warm and longstanding relationship between the Winthrop and the Roosevelt families that would grow in future generations.
In celebration of Mrs. Winthrop’s 80th birthday on February 4th, 1919, her five surviving children gifted her a Belle Époque diamond necklace, Lot 38. Following Mrs. Winthrop’s death in 1925, her son Beekman Winthrop purchased his siblings’ shares of the necklace and gifted it to his wife, Melza Riggs Wood Winthrop. After Melza’s death, Beekman gave the necklace to his niece Dorothy Amory Winthrop as a wedding gift.
The Winthrop women wore and cherished this necklace throughout their lives. Demonstrating its importance to her, Kate Winthrop chose to wear the necklace for her portrait by artist Henry Harris Brown. Since Dorothy’s death, the necklace has remained with the family. Lot 38 presents the opportunity for a new collector to own this long-treasured and striking necklace.