A remarkable private collection spanning generations of American collectors is set to headline a major auction at Christie’s in New York next month, with expectations that the sale could realise tens of millions of dollars.
The Stream Family Collection was originally assembled by Matilda Geddings Gray, an influential Louisiana oil heiress and respected art patron, before being expanded by her niece, Matilda Gray Stream. Together, the two women built one of the most important private collections of jewellery, Fabergé objects and decorative arts ever to appear at auction.
The collection includes almost 400 pieces featuring works by legendary houses such as Fabergé, Cartier and Tiffany & Co.. Alongside the jewellery are significant examples of silver, porcelain, furniture, paintings, antiquities and glassware.
Among the standout pieces is a rare Fabergé gem set silver rhinoceros automaton dating to around 1900, carrying an estimate of USD $300,000 to $500,000.
The jewellery section reflects a strong Art Deco influence and is led by an exceptional 49.91 carat very light green yellow diamond ring featuring a VS1 clarity old European brilliant cut stone, estimated at USD $500,000 to $700,000.
Other highlights include a Tiffany & Co. Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet estimated at USD $300,000 to $500,000, together with a Cartier coral, diamond and gold bracelet expected to realise between USD $50,000 and $70,000.
Matilda Geddings Gray began collecting Fabergé in 1933, long before the Russian master became widely recognised in the United States. Her acquisitions included four Imperial Eggs and the celebrated Lilies of the Valley Basket, regarded by many experts as Fabergé’s floral masterpiece.
The live auction, titled A Treasured History: The Stream Family Collection, will take place on 10 June, with an accompanying online sale continuing through to 17 June.
Fancy Colour Diamond Prices Ease Slightly In Q1 2026
The Fancy Color Research Foundation reported a modest decline in fancy colour diamond prices during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting what it described as a stable but highly selective market environment.
According to the latest Fancy Color Diamond Index, overall prices slipped by 0.2 per cent during Q1 2026 following a 0.1 per cent decline in the previous quarter.
Pink diamonds recorded a 0.3 per cent fall across all sizes and intensities during the quarter, while blue diamonds also declined by 0.3 per cent. Yellow diamonds remained unchanged over the quarter but were down 1.2 per cent over the past 12 months.
Despite the softer pricing, the foundation noted that fancy colour diamonds continue to demonstrate resilience, particularly in the highest quality categories where rarity and strong colour saturation remain key drivers of demand.
The strongest performing category during the quarter was 1 carat Fancy Intense Pink diamonds, which rose by 1.9 per cent. The weakest performer was 8 carat Fancy Yellow diamonds, which declined by 1.5 per cent.
Ephraim Zion, managing director of Hong Kong based high jewellery house Dehres, said the market remained highly selective, with buyers focusing increasingly on exceptional stones with standout colour and rarity.
He noted that while headline prices appear relatively stable, the gap between top quality stones and more commercial goods has become increasingly pronounced.
Source: DCLA
