Lot 152
A small collection of stick pins
Estimate: £300 - £500
Auction: 23 October 2024 From 14:00 BST
Description
Including a horseshoe set with brilliant and single-cut diamonds, a 9.2mm cultured pearl, and three small coins mounted on pins, one with French maker's mark ELBCo., various lengths (5)
Provenance
From the Private Collection of Paul Eugene Magloire (1907-2001). Hence by descent
Paul Magloire (1907-2001) was the 30th President of Haiti. The election in 1950 was the first in the nation's history where all adult males had a right to vote; Magloire won by a landslide victory. After gaining office, Magloire oversaw women's suffrage being granted. Unusually Magloire focused on long term infrastructure projects, not short term wins during his presidency, including the building of roads, the country's first damn and the development of electricity networks. These works and a buoyant economy helped make Haiti one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for American and European tourists during this period. Truman Capote, Irving Berlin and Noel Coward all visited during the period.
Magloire's anti-communist position helped build close ties with the U.S. and he was very popular with American media. In 1954 he was on the front cover of Time magazine in a lengthy article titled “Bon Papa”. In early 1955, Magloire and Leconte were invited for a State Visit to Washington D.C. They were welcomed by then Vice President Richard Nixon and were received by President Eisenhower at the White House. In addition to various social engagements, Magloire also addressed a joint session of Congress.
Magloire had to leave his homeland after his term in office came to an end and lived in New York in exile for decades. The political dictatorship which followed his peaceful, free term as presidency made it impossible for him to return until 1986. Ultimately he was able to return to Haiti, where at the age of 91 he was even made an unofficial military advisor. Following his death in 2001, he was awarded a state funeral. The Guardian's obituary described his presidency “as Haiti's last golden age”.
Also see lots 149-167.
