Diamond Ring

Marilynn Himes Riviere was born in Canton, Ohio to U.S. Congressman Joseph Hendrix Himes and Eileen Canfield Himes. Growing up at the family’s historic estate in Maryland, Prospect Hall, which housed a private zoo, she developed a love of animals that continued throughout her life.  As an adult, Marilynn was involved in a variety of philanthropic organizations, including the Washington Animal Rescue League and the Tail-Waggers club.  An avid equestrienne, she was also on the board of the Aiken Training Track, which produced several champion racehorses. In the 1940s, she hosted an animal television show, a particularly noteworthy achievement for a woman at the time and the first of its kind in Washington D.C. During World War II, the debutante-turned-adventuress earned her pilot’s license and began teaching at a U.S. Army training school.  She married fellow pilot, Air Force captain Joseph Paul Riviere, in 1961 and later in life, followed her sons to Aiken, South Carolina. There, she was known for her lively spirit, her love of throwing parties, and for providing a home to a multitude of animals at any given time. Sotheby’s is pleased to present this lovely ring from the collection of Marilynn Himes Riviere, a woman who lived life to its fullest.