Important Jewelry

Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, better known as 'Mamie' earned a distinct reputation among the 'Gilded Age' society of the 1890's. As the wife of Stuyvesant Fish, president of the Illinois Central Railroad and a descendant of the last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam, Mamie was naturally at the center of New York's social scene. In 1915, The New York Times wrote, "Mrs. Fish gave the most original and sparkling entertainments of any New York hostess." One can only imagine the many events this evening purse, of exquisitely engraved 14 karat gold attended in the hands of Mamie Fish at their still standing Italianate mansion designed by Stanford White at 25 East 78th Street or their Newport, Rhode Island mansion.

Current viewers of HBO's Drama 'The Gilded Age' will certainly recognize Mamie Fish as the larger-than-life socialite portrayed by actress, Ashlie Atkinson.

Overall Condition: Scratching throughout consistent with age and wear, clasp functions well. Acid test indicates the chain is 14 karat gold.

Clutch engraved: 'DEUS DABIT M.F.'

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