Antique hand-painted plate, from Ann & Gordon Getty's antiquity collection
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Antique hand-painted pottery plate, part of Gordon and Ann Getty's personal antiquity collection, the Getty's acquired at Christie's South Kensington Auction, July 28, 1995, Lot 25. A treasured find for collectors and enthusiasts of unique and one-of-a-kind pieces with a story to tell! Ann Getty was a paleoanthropologist, tastemaker, interior designer, and author. Married to Gordon Getty, billionaire philanthropist, classical music composer, the 4th son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. They were chic intellectual Bay Area socialites, supportive advocators for the arts, music, science, and education. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Center, and Getty Villa, exhibit Getty's private art and antiquity collections, the J. Paul Getty Trust Fund is the world’s wealthiest art institution. Anne grew up on dairy, peach, and walnut farms in northern California, then graduated from UC Berkeley with dual degrees in Biology and Anthropology. She supported archaeological digs in Ethiopia and Turkey, searched for human fossils and artifacts, studied genetics and DNA structures. She was unpretentious, hands on, intellectually in synch with scientists, craftsmen, and artists. There’s a photo of her restoring ancient fossilized buffalo horns at the National Museum of Ethiopia. She applied these personal traits, mannerisms, curiosity, and keen eye in her approach to collecting art and antiques, first student, then connoisseur. She knew the provenance and story behind every piece she acquired. She taught herself by observing, experimenting, and absorbing everything. She employed artists that became her greatest teachers. Prior to launching her interior design firm she hired legendary designers Albert Hadley, Sister Parish, and John Stefanidis to design her Pacific Heights estate, an early 1900’s sprawling Italianate mansion with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, designed by architect Willis Polk. The estate was nicknamed the “San Francisco Embassy” for its lavish political and cultural parties. Shortly after opening her interior design firm she launched "The Ann Getty House Collection," a line of antique reproductions inspired by her personal collection, produced by old world craftsman Luis Rossi (L Rossi Antiques...
Early 20th Century Unknown Dinner Plates
Porcelain
