Special donation to be featured at Edison gala auction Nov. 14

Tag : vases
Bidders will be pleased to find a lovely and significant item hasbeen added to the auction list for Edison Ford Winter EstatesFoundation's eighth fund-raising gala to be held Friday evening,Nov. 14, at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Fort Myers' most gracious philanthropist Berne Davis — whoreceived a telegraph of congratulations on her wedding day fromMina Edison — has selected something precious from her ownhome to enhance the bidding during the Foundation Gala, twoexquisite 18th century vases from her personal collection.Delicate, beautiful and functional, the vases depict a garden sceneand have been in the Davis home since 1978.
The vases were purchased from the estate of the shipping heiressHelen Hooper and her husband, the Honorable Lathrup Brown, a formercongressman, Secretary of the Interior, and best man at Franklin D.Roosevelt's wedding to Eleanor. The Browns moved to Sanibel Islandin the 1960s and planned to live on a large paddle-wheeler namedAlgiers, intentionally beached on 30 Gulf-front acres. It was tohave been inhabited by the couple, who had spared no expense inrefurbishing, moving and furnishing the boat. Terrazzo tiles fromItaly and marble countertops from France complemented sinks inlaidwith gold shells and seahorses. But before the couple could movein, Lathrup died unexpectedly. Helen couldn't bear the thought ofliving there without her husband and never returned to the island.
Upon Ms. Hooper's death, the couple's belongings were auctioned,with Mrs. Sidney Davis in attendance.
The live auction is part of the Edison Ford Winter EstatesFoundation's signature fundraising event, a tribute to the estates'esteemed former residents. All the profits raised at the eightannual gala will further the mission of the Foundation: restorationand preservation of the estates where Thomas Edison and Henry Fordwintered. A 5:30 cocktail reception precedes a dinner, the liveauction, and dancing to the music of Alter Ego. The event is blacktie. Tickets are $375 per person. For more information, please callthe Foundation office at 274-2377.