Historic Charlotte
An illustrated history of the City of Charlotte and the Mecklenburg County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the City of Charlotte and the Mecklenburg County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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Top, left: A dainty platinum diamond<br />
pendant watch with a bow design brooch<br />
encrusted with old mine and rose cut<br />
diamonds and one natural pearl, c. 1900-<br />
1910. The watch features a pavé set puffedstyle<br />
back.<br />
Top, right: An exquisite fourteen-karat<br />
yellow gold negligée style necklace, featuring<br />
faceted cabochon and pendeloque shaped<br />
milky chalcedonys, c. 1820s-1830s<br />
Armand Hammer gave it to his banker, who, in<br />
turn, gave it to his wife, who later moved to<br />
<strong>Charlotte</strong>. The unusual piece sold for $15,000.<br />
Although Perry’s at SouthPark regularly<br />
sells items in the $50,000 to $100,000 price<br />
range, there are many pieces of interesting<br />
antique costume jewelry in their cases which<br />
carry price tags as low as $25.<br />
Most jewelry brought to Perry’s for appraisal<br />
and sale comes from private individuals and<br />
executors of estates. Perry and his trained staff<br />
offer free opinions regarding an item’s potential<br />
market value. The jewelry store also offers<br />
thorough written appraisals, the cost of which<br />
depends on the complexity of the jewelry.<br />
Although he no longer conducts estate<br />
auctions, Ernest still enjoys banging the gavel to<br />
help raise millions of dollars each year for local<br />
charities. His engaging personality and<br />
outstanding skill at the auction block have<br />
made him one of the area’s most popular charity<br />
auctioneers. He helped plan the first auction for<br />
<strong>Charlotte</strong> Rescue Mission six years ago and has<br />
volunteered as auctioneer each year since. The<br />
<strong>Charlotte</strong> Rescue Mission auction raised<br />
$25,000 the first year and, in subsequent years,<br />
it has raised as much as $75,000.<br />
Ernest is also involved with the <strong>Charlotte</strong><br />
Symphony Guild’s American Society of Interior<br />
Designers Showhouse, the International House,<br />
and North Carolina Chapter of the Leukemia<br />
Society, Dore Academy, and the <strong>Charlotte</strong><br />
Philharmonic, among others.<br />
One of the many stories that friends of the<br />
Perrys like to tell involves an auction for the<br />
Speedway Children’s Charities. Two racing<br />
enthusiasts engaged in a hot bid for an<br />
autographed racing jacket donated by<br />
NASCAR legend Richard Petty. The jacket<br />
went to the high bidder for $24,000, but that<br />
wasn’t the end of it. Ernest asked Richard<br />
Petty if he had another jacket for a second<br />
bidder. Petty brought a second jacket from his<br />
car, signed it, and presented it to the second<br />
highest bidder, thus fetching another $24,000<br />
for the Speedway Children’s Charity.<br />
The Perry’s appreciation for antique and<br />
estate jewelry has led them to a very successful<br />
business, but more importantly to them, it has<br />
provided a way for Ernest and Priscilla Perry<br />
to make significant contributions to the<br />
<strong>Charlotte</strong> community.<br />
Below: This unique pierced leaf filigree<br />
design platinum pendant features a bezel set<br />
half-carat diamond enhanced by forty-three<br />
old European cut diamonds from the Art<br />
Deco period, c. 1920s.<br />
THE MARKETPLACE<br />
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