Turner Auctions + Appraisals Presents the Nancy Glenn Collection of Hermès Scarves & Shawls

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is very pleased to present the Nancy Glenn Collection of Hermès Scarves & Shawls on Saturday, February 29, 2020. This online auction, exclusively devoted to items from the world-renowned Parisian fashion house, features over 200 lots of scarves and shawls for women; plus some pocket squares, cummerbunds and bow ties for men. Established in 1837, Hermès is a French high fashion luxury goods manufacturer that specializes in lifestyle accessories, leather, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Nancy Glenn was founder and owner of the well-known, high-end interior design firm, Glenn Design Company, in Sausalito, California, for over 35 years.

Lot 168, Hermes Cashmere & Silk Blend Shawl; Estimate $400-$600

Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at 10:30 am PST; sale items are available for preview and bidding now on Bidsquare. 

Born in San Diego, Nancy Muehleisen Glenn (1945-2019) was the daughter of Major General Dolf E. Muehleisen of the U.S. Air Force, and his wife, Gretchen R. Muehleisen. She attended high school in Belton, Missouri, then the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Fine Arts. She began her interior design career in Palo Alto, California, and opened her own firm in Sausalito in 1978. Glenn Design Company was known for its wide range of projects, including Sausalito's Rusty Scupper restaurant, a racetrack, and very high-end residences and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.  

Lot 176, Hermes Cashmere & Silk Blend Shawl; Estimate $400-$600

In addition to her interior design business, Nancy Glenn was passionate about health, both mental and physical. In the mid-1990s, she became a National Marketing Director for Juice Plus, which offers whole food based nutrition in a capsule. As a distributor and top performer, Nancy was an enthusiast of the company's nutritional products, attributing them to her well-being and extended life. She also was an ardent horseback rider her entire life, acquiring her last-owned horse, Indy, from Ireland, eventually bringing him to California. Among her many memberships, she belonged to the St. Francis Yacht Club and the Order of St. John, an order of chivalry and a major international humanitarian charity accredited to the United Nations.

According to her niece, Janelle Hinton, Nancy was a beloved source of positive energy and focus, with powerful life-coaching skills. Reflecting this, the motto she lived by was "It's not about what happens to you in life, it's how you respond to it that matters." She believed the purpose of one's life is to be happy. A joyful influence on many others, she traveled extensively in America and around the world, making friends as she went. 

Nancy was an avid collector her entire adult life. Her collections included Hermès scarves, Steiff animals, belts, beads, art, antiques, jade, napkin rings, gloves and more – with well over 100 items amassed in each category. Reflecting her lifelong love of horses and a fascination of Native America, many items in her Hermès collection focused on these two themes. Captivated by their patterns, fabric and colors, the designer appreciated these chic fashion accessories as little pieces of art – wearable art. 

Lot 13, Hermes Silk Scarf; Estimate $150-$250

Unsurprisingly, as a successful and in-demand interior designer, Nancy Glenn also had a very creative eye and a love of art. There is a story behind each item she collected, whether a personal connection with another or an intriguing design element that made it special to her. Of particular note are two paintings of Nancy Glenn done by Andy Warhol in 1985, two years before his death. Commissioned by her former husband, the colorful paintings (in five colors, supposedly for people he really liked, said her niece Janelle) were sold in 2017 at Sotheby's for over $400,000.

Now, Nancy's family is bringing her collections to auction, hoping to share the happiness they brought to Nancy's life with others.