New Orleans antiques gallery M.S. Rau’s latest acquisition includes a pair of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings and matching cuff from the personal collection of television icon Mary Tyler Moore. These circa 1975 jewels were a 39th-birthday gift from Grant Tinker, Moore’s husband at the time. The cuff (pictured at top) is priced at $59,950, and the earrings are $32,500.
The bracelet and earrings, from Van Cleef & Arpels’ renowned Etruscan collection, are crafted of 18k yellow gold with a distinctive hammered finish. The cuff is engraved with “VCA New York” and a heartfelt message from Tinker that reads, “Can you believe 12-29-75? Love G.A.T.” (Moore’s birthday was Dec. 29.)
“We are known for our collection of treasures with exceptional provenance and beauty, so when a colleague in the field presented the opportunity to acquire these remarkable pieces, we couldn’t resist,” Bill Rau, the third-generation owner of M.S. Rau, tells JCK. “Mary Tyler Moore was not only a trailblazer for women’s rights and visibility in Hollywood and television, but she also had impeccable taste, much like Elizabeth Taylor. These pieces are particularly special, featuring a personalized inscription for her 39th birthday. And, of course, they were crafted by none other than Van Cleef & Arpels, the favored jeweler of stars.”
Moore—who died in 2017 at the age of 80—portrayed one of television’s first modern, career-focused women, Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Tinker, her second husband, cofounded MTM Enterprises, which produced the 1970–1977 sitcom. The role of Mary Richards became a touchstone of independence and empowerment for women.
Off-screen, Moore would champion women’s rights and diabetes awareness. Her jewelry captures the spirit of an icon who embraced both style and substance. More than 20 pieces she owned were auctioned by Sotheby’s last year.
(Photos courtesy of M.S. Rau)
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