Exceptionally Fine Opal Carving on Black Nephrite Base

By Robin Lynes
Made in England
An large cabinet-sized sculpture, carved from a single large white opal specimen, weighing 2975 carats, with firey multi-color play-of-fire, depicting Jesus and the mother Mary with angel wing, the reverse carved with four wingless putti and a grape cluster. Raised on a base of carved and polished black nephrite jade, with a free form 18K yellow gold armature, stamped 750, intended to support the carved opal sculpture.

Offered in a custom-fitted wooden box with key, inscribed RL for Robin Lynes, the lid inset with an 18K yellow gold plaque stating: 2975 carats Coober Pedy Fire Opal embedded in 18K solid gold on black nephrite jade by Robin Lynes. The base of the box with screw mounted brass plate.

GLORIA MANNEY

Every curator, dealer and auctioneer who has met Gloria Manney called her "one of a kind" or said, "they don't make 'em like her anymore." She was a voracious collector with a style, intelligence, curiosity, courage and point of view all her own.

Along with her husband, Richard Manney, they researched and collected an amazing array of material culture and built entire markets for objects by aiding scholars in their work, including rare books and 18th and 19th Century fine and decorative arts. Their collections included the greatest assemblages of American portrait miniatures and American colonial goldsmithing, both now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their furniture resides at Winterthur, The Met and The Art Institute of Chicago.

But above all the objects in their lives, Opals were Gloria's first and foremost passion from childhood. They were her birthstone, her playthings, and her favorite adornment. No opal passed her by, as she believed every opal needed a home. A magpie by nature, their beauty entranced her. Gloria worked with dealers and auctioneers around the world to find opals. And the opals found her.