Own (and Wear) a Piece of Design History – the Work of Legendary Mary Ann Scherr
Exquisite pieces from private collection of jewelry designed by Mary Ann Scherr (1921-2016) will be offered at auction by Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers on December 1 at 6pm. Among the 360+ lots of fine & vintage jewelry to be sold, this fine assortment of Scherr's designs numbers 37 lots with many more pieces as some are offered as sets or groups.
Ms. Scherr's jewelry, and designs in metal, can be found in the permanent collections of major museums, including The Vatican, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Smithsonian, the U.S. National Archives in Washington, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, as well as many private collections.
As internationally renowned designer, educator and goldsmith, Ms. Scherr’s work includes automobile design, toy design, fashion design, illustration, experimental metal research and product development. Her unique designs and use of metal work in jewelry have garnered attention by collectors and jewelry connoisseurs throughout the world.
Subsequent to WWII, she was the first woman to be hired by Ford Motor Company's automotive division, and she designed for other corporations, including Goodyear, Alcoa, and US Steel. She owns patents for her design of body monitors, and copyrights for processes such as the instant photo etching of metals. She pioneered the use of exotic metals in adornment, stainless steel, rare earth metals, aluminum and mild steels. Mary Ann's longest tenure as an educator, 48 years, was at the Penland School of Crafts, but she also taught at Akron University, Kent State University, Parsons, Duke, Meredith, Haystack, Arrowmont, and the NCSU Crafts Center, as well as in workshops both in America and abroad. Ms. Scherr was also a Fellow of the American Craft Council, and an Honorary Associate of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London.
Ms. Scherr was on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dan Rather's Evening News, and NBC's That's Incredible, and has been featured in over 25 books and magazines.
The auction begins at 6 PM EST, in Delaware, Ohio.
Absentee and online bidding are available, and inquiries may be directed to
Jewelry Specialist & Gemologist, Deborah Shub,
deborah@garths.com; 740.362.4771 or 740.919.9101
Highlighted items from 35+ lots include:
Lot 14
Bracelet measures 5"l. with circumference of 8" at the widest, tapering to 6" at the narrow end. The entire piece has an intricate geometric cutout design. Signed and stamped "sterling", weight 164 grams.
$600-1200
Lot 16
THREE PIECES OF JEWELRY WITH LAPIS, MARY ANN SCHERR. American, 21st century. Two pieces by Mary Ann Scherr: Sterling silver and 14kyg "Blue Moon" pendant/brooch with large flat rounded lapis lazuli, approx. 1.87" diameter, weight 64gr. Removable pendant attachment, "MAS" etched on back of brooch, sterling snake chain fitted with decorative hook terminals included, chain 30"l, 28 gr; "Three Stones" sterling brooch set with three pieces of round lapis, 22 gr., marked "14K Sterling Scherr." Silver and oval lapis ring, probably American Indian. Bezel set lapis with beaded work. Measures approx. 1.75mm x 25.4mm x 4.4mm, sz 8.75, 16gr.
$500-1,000
Lot 82
Flexible strands of silver wire with 14KYG and moonstone beads attached to sterling silver collar. Collar measures approx. .75" wide at front, tapering to .50" at back. Hinged piece at back of collar forms clasp. Signed Mary Ann Scherr Moonstone 14K Sterling. Weight 84gr
$400 -600
Lot 84
Cushion cut deep red garnet mounted in raised prong setting. Garnet measures approx. 15.8mm x 9.3mm. Band is beautifully sculpted with geometric shapes. Ring measures approx. 1.25" in length at the front, shank measures approx. .5" wide. Sz 7.5 , weight 20gr. Ring is signed "Mary Ann Scherr" and stamped "14K Scherr". Original drawing by the designer is included.
Note: Mary Ann Scherr rarely worked in all gold, making this a very unusual piece.
$1500 - 3200
Lot 108
"ROCKASTLE" BRACELET, MARY ANN SCHERR. American, 21st century. Wide bangle bracelet designed as rectangular box "castle" made of sterling silver and 14k yellow gold-filled metal with eight oval windows around the box. Center/top of castle is a large emerald cut smoky quartz measuring approx. 34.9mm x 25.4mm x 16.0mm. The "castle" structure measures approx. 38.1mm x 28.4mm x 25.4mm. Castle is hinged to open. Band of bracelet measures approx. 25.4mm wide. Weight 98gr., signed "Mary Ann Scherr Sterling GF".
$500-1,000
Lot 272
"BLACK" BRONZE AND SMOKY QUARTZ BRACELET, MARY ANN SCHERR. American, 21st century. Mary Ann Scherr signature style "V" bracelet. Blackened bronze with one large round faceted smoky quartz set in large bezel in point of "V". Quartz measures approx. 40mm in diameter. Bracelet measures approx. 4"l., 94gr. $350-750
Lot 295
American, late 20th century. Unusual earrings by Mary Ann Scherr, unmarked. Circular open motif with three long rods crisscrossing, each with a cabochon emerald at both ends, small gold leaf applied at one end of the circle, long wire backs. Earrings measure approx. 1.5" diameter, 16gr.
$400-900
