In our December 4th and 5th auctions, we are pleased to be offering the following lots belonged to Morris and Adele Bergreen, who were exemplary figures in New York’s legal and business fields, prominent cultural benefactors, and partners in the law firm Bergreen & Bergreen.
Throughout his life, Morris Bergreen was a devoted public servant whose contribution to such landmark institutions as New York University and Mount Sinai Medical Center, through his position as president of the Skirball Foundation from 1986 until his death in 2001, had a lasting impact on his beloved New York City. Established under his leadership were: the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Skirball Biomolecular Institute at the New York University Medical Center, the Skirball Theater of the Performing Arts at New York University, the Skirball Gallery in Cincinnati, and the Skirball Museum of Biblical Archaeology in Jerusalem. A life trustee of New York University, as well as a trustee of its medical school and a life trustee of Mount Sinai-N.Y.U. Medical Center and Health Systems, Morris Bergreen’s driving impulse to give back to his community was unparalleled, and truly a legacy to be celebrated.
The fine art from the Bergreen Family Collection is a cohesive group of works by American and European painters and sculptors from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. In the European tradition of collecting, the Bergeens became patrons of, and then friends to, many of the most influential artists and gallerists in New York, Paris and London. Their collection has examples of the best work of Paul Jenkins (Lot 650) and Yaacov Agam (Lot 727), for example, as well as a strong group of small-scale sculptures by Miguel Berrocal (Lot 697), Seymour Lipton (Lot 692), Pietro Consagra (Lot 693), and Jean Ipousteguy (Lot 702), among others. Also included in the collection are works by Contemporary masters such as Jasper Johns (Lots 666 and 667) and Sam Francis (Lot 665), and works by more esoteric artists like Mary Bauermeister (Lot 633) and Gianfranco Baruchello (Lot 631).
Not only were the Bergreens exemplary art collectors, but engaged in a long relationship with the jewelry designers at Bulgari and Tiffany & Co. The rare and unusual Bulgari gold and enamel elephant bangle (Lot 207), to the refined Tiffany art deco platinum diamond brooch (Lot 3), is an example of their sophisticated, well-educated eye. Among the highlights in the collection are a refined Jean Schlumber designed floral pin of gold, coral and diamonds for Tiffany & Co. (Lot 203), a rare Georgian diamond floral brooch (Lot 167) and an Edwardian diamond heart pendant on chain (Lot 34), and a number of jewelry pieces and watches from Cartier, Leo de Vroomen, Chaumet, Buccellati, Piaget.