09/12/2024 Jewelry, Asian Works of Art, European Art
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle is honored to offer the Collection of Alan and Marion Oliner in select auctions this season. The scholarly collection of Asian Works of Art assembled by Alan Oliner will be auctioned on September 17, followed by Fine Jewelry from Marion Oliner’s collection on September 25. Furniture and decorative arts will be offered on October 2, 8, 17 and 24, and Picasso ceramics on October 31. Their remarkable collection of 19th century French drawings and watercolors by Gauguin, Redon, Bonnard, Signac, Dufy and other artists will be offered in the November 20 auction of Impressionist & Modern Art.
The story of Alan and Marion Oliner is an inspiring one of two remarkable people, born an ocean apart, who created for themselves, individually and together, lives of accomplishment, generosity and abundant love.
Born in 1925 in rural Connecticut, Alan was raised in New York City, where his early passion for reading fueled dreams of exploring distant places and cultures, undeterred by the realities of the Depression. He completed high school at the young age of 16, graduated from NYU at 19, and earned a Master’s degree at 21 from the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. Alan then joined Oliner Fibre, the family business founded by his father, where he would dedicate the next 61 years, expanding the company’s supplier base and customer list around the globe.
Born in Germany in 1929, Marion was orphaned during the Holocaust and sheltered through the OSE in France and then with family friends in Switzerland until war’s end. In 1946, she sailed to the U.S. to begin a new life with her uncle and aunt and their family in Philadelphia. Two years later, she graduated second in her class at Philadelphia High School for Girls and received a full scholarship to Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in Philosophy. She continued her studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, earning a PhD. in Psychology.
Alan and Marion met at a family wedding in Philadelphia, where his cousin married her cousin. After the celebration, family members encouraged Alan to drive Marion back to New York, which sparked the beginning of their romance. Marion later moved to San Francisco for an internship. Returning from a cross-country trip to visit her, Alan made a memorable detour to the Grand Canyon—a preview of the many travels that would follow. They married in 1955, settled on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and began their 67-year journey together.
At a time when professions were uncommon for married women, Marion embarked on a successful career in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, in private practice and as a teacher, speaker and author of numerous articles, in addition to mothering their two children. With Alan’s encouragement, she wrote three highly-regarded books on psychotherapy, drawing on her own experiences during the Holocaust to offer fresh perspectives on trauma and its impact. A dedicated member of the New York Freudian Society since 1970, Marion was honored with an award for her lifetime of contributions.
As president of Oliner Fibre, Alan expanded the company’s reach internationally, allowing him to fulfill his dream of world travel. Over his lifetime, he visited nearly ninety countries, immersing himself in the places and cultures he had once only imagined. He devoured books on history, art and culture, which informed his collecting, each acquisition preceded by thorough research. Visitors to their home were often treated to a tour of the collection during which Alan eagerly shared his detailed knowledge and enthusiasm for each object. Typically a man of few words, he delighted in recounting the fascinating stories behind every treasure.
Asian Works of Art: Auction September 17 Read More View Lots
Fine Jewelry & Luxury Handbags: Auction September 25 Read More View Lots
Doyle at Home: Auction October 2
Entertaining with Style: Auction October 8
English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts: Auction October 17
American Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts: Auction October 24
Prints & Multiples: Auction October 31 View Lots
Impressionist & Modern Art: Auction November 20 View Lots