S amuel Mayo Nickerson (1830-1914), an 8th generation American born in Massachusetts, left New England early in his adulthood in search of opportunity and a promising career. Following a generally unproductive time running a general store with his brother in Florida, he embarked on a new venture. He moved to Chicago around 1860 and found success starting and running his own distillery. He quickly parlayed the profits of his liquor business into a more reputable career as a banker, as founder, vice president (1865- 1867) and then, president of the First National bank (1867-1898). He was elected president of the Chicago City Horse Railway company in 1865 which later became the Chicago City Railway company. The affluence that resulted from these prominent positions allowed him to indulge his passion for art.
Sotheby’s is honored to present a group of jades from The Art Institute of Chicago, many of which hail from the collections of prominent Chicago collectors and philanthropists including Katherine S. Buckingham, Chauncey Brooks and Marion Deering McCormick, and Samuel and Matilda Nickerson. Nine impressive jades from the storied Nickerson collection are included, including two magnificent Qing dynasty jade brushpots.
