To know someone we know is one thing… but to know someone we don’t
know is something else entirely. Whether 'tis best to know what we
know or best to know what we don’t know remains one of life’s great
conundrums.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to know… or whether ignorance is
bliss… these are the questions that torment this man’s soul. When
it comes to jewelry… should I write about that which I know I
know… or should I write about that which I know… about that which
I don’t know. Should I muddle the minds of friends and foe… as I do
my own… or enlighten those in search of meaningful jewelry. Is
there such a thing as meaningful jewelry? Egads… does anyone out
there know what I’m talking about?
Which brings me… by way of a tortuous and circuitous route… to
the jewelry of one Mary G. Roebling. Do we know her… or do we not?
The answer is No… we do not. But the answer is also Yes… we do.
The name… I would venture to guess… is obscure. And yet… and
yet… she is one of the Roeblings… the builders of the Brooklyn
Bridge. She was also the first woman to serve as President and Board
Chairman of a major American Bank: The Trenton Trust Company.
She was also the first woman Governor of the American Stock Exchange.
She was also the first living woman for whom a major government
building was named: The Mary G. Roebling Building. She was friends
with Richard Nixon, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller and more. She was–in
short–a woman of note. She has a name which I suspect most of us do
not know. But her bridge… ah… of that we know. Essentially… one
could say we know about that which we don’t know. Unless of course
you know dear Mary. In which case you know about that which you know.
How many times have each and every one of us… in headier moments…
tried to sell that Bridge? Psst. Hey buddy. Wanna buy a bridge? Oh
yeah? Well… if you think I believe that then I have a bridge I want
to sell you.
So now we come to the enigma. What, Benjamin, pray tell… does this
have to do with jewelry? Yeah. Well. It goes like this. Even when
analyzing those we know we don’t know… we have to concede they may
well have jewelry… you know? And dear old Mary was no exception. And
some of you will soon see and know what one of her priced pieces
was… something which you will now know though prior to this Tidbits
you did not. Know that is.
It is an Indian Gem-Set, cultured pearl, enamel and gold necklace. I
do now know the value in today’s market. I do not know if it’s a
stunner or not… but it is unique looking and for that worth a
look-see.
And of course… I leave you all with this flavored little morsel.
You now know about things you did not know… as well as now knowing
that you know things about that which you knew nothing about. Put
that in your pipes and smoke it. If you understand what I mean.
Because I surely don’t. You know?
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits…may I
direct you to my home page at http://www.tyler-adam.com where you
will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that
says Current Tidbits… click it… and you will see represented on
our pages… an Indian Gem-Set, cultured pearl, enamel and gold
necklace that once belonged to Mary G. Roebling… dynamic woman who
I… for one… would have liked to have known more about.
And there ya have it.
That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark