New York, May 12 (IANS): A wonderful painting by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her Cartier watch, an iconic timepiece, are all set to be auctioned in New York.
Christie's Watches announced "The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank" as a sale highlight of its upcoming June 21 Rare Watches and American Icons New York sale.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and First Lady of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
Originally given to Jacqueline by her brother-in-law Prince Stanislaw "Stas" Radziwill in 1963, she wore the Cartier Tank for decades and can be seen on her wrist in many iconic photos. The watch is estimated between $60,000 - $120,000. The watch features the engraving: "Stas to Jackie 23 Feb. 63 2:05 am to 9:35 pm." The times refer to the start and stop times of the famous 50-Mile Hike in Palm Beach in 1963.
The 50-mile hike became a short-lived fad in early 1963 after President Kennedy publicly asked the American people to accept the mentally and physically grueling challenge of walking this long distance. His inner circle of family and friends were some of the first to attempt the hike including his friends Stas Radziwill and Chuck Spalding, featured in the painting.
In the June 21 NY auction, the watch will also be accompanied by an original painting that Jacqueline made in 1963 as a gift for Stas Radziwill celebrating the hike with the dedication.
"The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Cartier Tank is a watch full of emotion, love and history. Together with Jackie's painting, these two objects capture the spirit of another era, a time where friendship and the "can-do" optimism of the generation seemed to make anything possible. In this spirit, the consignor has offered to donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Endowment for the Arts. Christie's Watches proudly offers this truly iconic timepiece and painting on June 21 in our New York Rockefeller Center Saleroom," John Reardon, International Head of Christie's Watches informed IANS in a statement.
This watch and the accompanying painting, previously unknown to the public, are two of the most important historic artifacts to surface in recent years from the golden era of the Kennedy Presidency.