Autochrome Lumière of Samuel Clemens' Daughter Clara with Husband, Ossip Gabrilowitsch, & Their Daughter, Plus

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American History, Featuring the Property of N...

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Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392
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• Lot Description

  Lot of 7: Autochrome Lumière, 7.25 x 9.25 in., housed in wooden frame/case, 12.25 x 15.25 in. overall. The image shows Ossip Gabrilowitsch (1878–1936), Clara Clemens (1874-1962) and their daughter Nina (1910-1966). Gabrilowitsch was the founding director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra beginning in 1919, Clara Clemens was the only surviving daughter of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), and their daughter Nina was the only grandchild of Samuel Clemens. They are pictured in the garden of the home they purchased at 611 W. Boston Boulevard in the Boston Edison neighborhood of Detroit in 1919 for $125,000.

  Although uncredited, it is possible that this image was produced by Alvin Coburn, an autochrome enthusiast who photographed many noteworthy personalities from this period, including Samuel Clemens. 

  After the death of Gabrilowitsch in 1936, Clara purchased Casa Allegra in 1939 and moved to Los Angeles. Casa Allegra was a 12-room, two-story Hollywood home on five walled acres, with a swimming pool and a large flagstone terrace. (She purchased the mini-estate from pioneering film producer Jesse Lanksy.) In 1944 Clara married her second husband, Jacques Alexandria Samossoud, a gambler.

  Clara bought Nina a house on El Contento Dr. and set up an irrevocable trust from the Twain estate that gave her daughter $1500 a month for life.

  When Clara Clemens, died in 1962, Nina was cut out of her mother's will, and most of the large estate Twain left had been squandered by Clara’s second husband Samossoud. Less than a year after Clara died in 1966, Nina contested the will she had been cut out of receiving a 35% settlement of the Clemens estate from Samossoud. Nina sold her home on El Contento Dr. and moved into 1922 H. Highland apt. 61 and 63. When Nina passed away in 1966 her will showed she had left the bulk of her estate, valued at about $50,000, to the American Cancer Society.

  Accompanied by 6 silver gelatin photographs, including 4 portraits of Clara Clemens and Nina Gabrilowitsch, each 5 x 7 in., plus an 8 x 10 in. portrait of Clara and an 8 x 10 in. photograph capturing Nina gathered together with a number of young boys, likely participants in a Huck Finn look-alike contest that was held in Hannibal, MO, October 25, 1935. Nina was the judge.

  This Autochrome Lumière and accompanying photographs were purchased at an estate sale at Casa Allegra held before the sale of the Clara Clemens’ home in 1987. 

  Condition

  Few imperfections/small areas of loss in autochrome. Photographs overall very good. 
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