William DeLillo snake chain necklace from the Estate of Anna Moffo Sarnoff

Item# 12295

Circa 1980

Unique William DeLillo four strand rhinestone encrusted snake chain made and owned by American Opera star Anna Moffo Sarnoff (see bio below)

length 18, 19, 20 & 21" on the chains

Condition is excellent.

DeLillo was partners with Robert F. Clarke from 1968-1976 They were previous Miriam Haskell designers as noted in Harice Miller's " Price Guide to Costume Jewelry" 3rd edition page 215. They are also mentioned in "Jewels of Miriam Haskell" by Cathy Gordon on page 46.

Biographical Information on Anna Moffo Sarnoff:
Born 6/27/32 in Wayne Indiana died 3/10/2006. She received a Fullbright Scholarship to The Academia de Santa Cecilia in Rome to study advanced opera. Debuted on November 1959 by playing Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera.

She was a major recording artist for RCA victor records and traveled the world performing.

Anna was considered the best known American lyrical and dramatic soprano singer in the 1950's. It her later life she was married to Robert Sarnoff the Chairman of RCA.

She was well known for her charity fund raising and received the Spirit Award in 1967 as well as the Cancer Society Humanitarian award in 2004.

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