Aquamarine and diamond pendant on collar 105.0ct oval light-medium blue aquamarine bezel-set within 14K yellow gold free-form pendant, set with eleven round-cut diamonds 1.0ctw, SI1-2 in clarity, G-H in color suspended on 14K yellow gold Florentine bangle collar, marked: SB14K. Replacement value $40,000.

Provenance : Margaret Brock Johnson was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929. She attended the University of Georgia for one year, in 1948. The next year, her family moved to Camden, South Carolina where she enrolled in the University of South Carolina as a Political Science major. It was there that she met her first husband, The Honorable Claytor Arrants, a professor and a rising political star. While married to Claytor, she was introduced to the world of politics. As a political wife, she possessed grace, charm and beauty and became known as "one of the most beautiful women in Camden." The two were later divorced. After moving with her family to Florence, South Carolina, Margaret met her second husband, Senator James P. "Spot" Mozingo, a distinguished attorney from Darlington. The two were married in December of 1959, and Margaret became further involved in the political world. During this time, she became friends with Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis and a number of other influential political leaders. The two were happily married until 1972, when Senator Mozingo died. Later that year, Cameron Mitchell was filming a movie in South Carolina with Burt Lancaster. Mitchell was asked to attend a benefit at the Florence Country Club as a celebrity guest. Margaret and Cameron fell in love at first sight. Mitchell loved Margaret's sweet southern accent and nicknamed her "Magnolia". The two were married at the home of Laurence Rockefeller in Puerto Rico and made their home in Palisades, outside of Los Angeles. Margaret was a great philanthropist, and although she lived far from Florence during this period in her life, she never forgot her connection to the city. Mitchell purchased this magnificent aquamarine necklace for his beloved wife from a Columbia, South Carolina jeweler. Margaret donated it to the Florence Museum as a token of her affection for the community, and it was unveiled at an opening reception of the Museum on March 21, 1975. Margaret and Cameron divorced several years later, and she returned to South Carolina. She then married prominent businessman, Robert Rainwater. After his death, in 1988, she became consumed with the Florence community until her death on July 11, 2005. The necklace is being sold to benefit the acquisition fund of the Florence Museum of Art.

Other Notes: Pendant was made by Walter Dems of Columbia, South Carolina and collar was purchased from Leo Suberi of New York, circa 1975.