CHICAGO, IL.- Freeman’s | Hindman will present its May 14th Important Jewelry auction, the first Important Jewelry sale since Freeman’s and Hindman merged at the beginning of the year. This sale features an array of important diamonds, signed jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, Garrard & Co., and Cartier, as well as jewelry from notable estates from across the country. The auction includes Property from the Collection of Dr. Julian Katz and Dr. Sheila Moriber Katz of Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, Important Jewelry from the Collection of Laura Pels, and property from various private collections.

Speaking to the sale, April Matteini, Freeman’s | Hindman’s newly appointed Senior Vice President and Head of Department, Jewelry said, “The spring Important Jewelry auction is filled with beautiful jewelry from our cover lot, a Van Cleef and Arpels floral mosaic cuff, to impressive diamonds and beautiful colored stones. The sale also contains the personal collections of two extraordinary women; I encourage collectors and jewelry enthusiasts to browse the auction.”

Important Jewelry from the Collection of Laura Pels

Laura Pels was a philanthropist and devoted supporter of the dramatic arts, funding a myriad of nonprofit theater groups as well as playwrights Harold Pinter and Arthur Miller, amongst many others.

Born in Saint-Vivien-de-Monségur, near Bordeaux, France, in 1931, Josette Jeanne Bernard studied mime and acting in Paris as a young woman. In her twenties, she decided to change her name to Laura and by the age of 25 had moved to London to study English.

She married communications executive, Mr. Pels, in 1965. Pels and her husband made a significant donation to support the founding of the National Actors Theater by actor Tony Randall, whose mission was to present affordable shows. Ms. Pels became the leader of the foundation upon her divorce in 1993 and funded projects at esteemed theaters such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, and provided grants to talented students at the Julliard School and the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

Her peerless taste is reflected in this beautiful collection of jewelry which includes works by renowned and timeless French makers such as Cartier and Boucheron (Lots 323-363), alongside more avant-garde pieces including works designed by artist Jean Cocteau. Couture, fine art, and decorative arts from the River House apartment of Ms. Pels will be offered in a sequence of sales at Freeman's I Hindman in New York and online this spring.

Jewelry from a Trailblazing Scientist, Dr. Sheila Moriber Katz

Freeman’s | Hindman is honored to offer jewelry from the Collection of Dr. Julian Katz and Dr. Sheila Moriber Katz of Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sheila Katz, a celebrated pathologist, dynamic business owner, author, educator, lecturer, and mother, was the first to identify the lethal bacteria known to cause Legionnaires' Disease. A former Dean of the Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Sheila received countless awards for her work within her field and obtained millions of dollars in research grants. Her groundbreaking discoveries over her career in medicine led to distinguished appointments including as Executive Director of the White House Medical Commission in 1999 under President Bill Clinton.

The jewelry offered (Lots 185-218) represents the pieces that Sheila collected throughout her life and the pieces her beloved husband, Julian, added to her collection. These beautiful and unique pieces showcase the legacy of their keen eye for style and design.

A portion of the proceeds go to the Julian and Sheila Katz Scholarship Fund at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

Other Top Lots Include:

• Lot 116 | AN IMPORTANT DIAMOND RING | Estimate: $160,000 - $200,000

• Lot 143 | VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, YELLOW GOLD, DIAMOND AND MOSAIC CUFF BRACELET | Estimate: $25,000 - $30,000

• Lot 219 | GARRARD & CO., DIAMOND AND RUBY PARURE | Estimate: $75,000 - $100,000

• Lot 231 | VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, RUBY AND DIAMOND 'MYSTERY SET' FLOWER CLIP EARRINGS | Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000

• Lot 241 | LUZ CAMINO, GOLD, RUBY AND TURQUOISE 'WINTER' BROOCH | Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000

• Lot 250 | BULGARI, UNHEATED SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND 'TROMBINO' RING | Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

• Lot 325 | JEAN COCTEAU, HIGH KARAT GOLD 'LE PROFIL' BROOCH | Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000