Broadway Star Ann Reinking’s Jewelry Is Heading to Auction

The Tony Award-winning dancer and choreographer was known for her role in “Chicago” and her longstanding partnership with Bob Fosse.

Brecken Branstrator brecken.branstrator@nationaljeweler.com

The late Ann Reinking—dancer, actress, choreographer, and Tony Award-winning Broadway star—had a love for sapphires and diamonds, Bonhams said. Next month, jewels from her estate will hit the block at the auction house in New York.

New York—Dancer and choreographer Ann Reinking captivated audiences when she took to the stage and to the red carpet and now jewelry from her estate is heading to auction.

Reinking was born in Seattle in 1942 and studied ballet before moving to New York City at the young age of 18, according to Playbill.

Just a year later, she made her Broadway debut in “Cabaret,” and then appeared in the ensembles of “Coco” and “Wild and Wonderful.”

In 1972, she landed a role in the musical “Pippin,” where she first worked with dancer and choreographer Bob Fosse.

“Pippin” was the start of a long partnership between the two, including a six-year-long romantic relationship following Fosse’s separation from wife Gwen Verdon.

Then her career really took off, with the star taking center stage in “Over Here!” and earning her first Tony Award nomination for playing Joan of Arc in “Goodtime Charley.”

After working with another director for a time, she returned to Fosse with her role as Roxie Hart in the original production of “Chicago”—taking over for Verdon in the role—and later his revue “Dancin,’” which earned her another Tony nod.

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Reinking thought she was done with the stage after the 1986 revival of “Sweet Charity,” but the allure of working with Fosse called again.

She signed on as choreographer in New York City Center’s “Chicago” revival, which opened in 1996 and earned her a Tony Award, but ended up also reprising her role as Roxie. Reinking and her co-stars followed the production to Broadway, where it continued its run up until the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down last year.

Reinking also conceived, co-directed, and co-choreographed a Broadway revue named after Fosse, earning her a shared Tony nomination for best direction of a musical and serving as her final appearance on Broadway.

Reinking was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2019. That same year, actress Margaret Qualley depicted her in the FX limited series “Fosse/Verdon.”

She died in December 2020.

See: Jewels from the Estate of Ann Reinking

A sapphire and diamond necklace from the estate of Ann Reinking ($8,000-$12,000)

Also from Reinking’s estate is this Tiffany & Co. ring, featuring an oval modified mixed-cut sapphire weighing about 5carats and trilliant-cut diamonds weighing a total of 2 carats in platinum ($4,000-$7000)

A Cartier diamond and ruby necklace once belonging to Ann Reinking ($20,000-$30,000)

Also from Reinking’s jewelry collection is this piece comprised of two bracelets, each composed of five rows of round diamonds and a detachable segment of similar design to wear as a necklace. Featuring an estimated total of 96.25 carats and set in platinum, it could sell for as much as $125,000.

Now, jewelry from her estate will go up on the auction block on Dec. 6 at Bonhams’ New York Jewels sale.

As she started appearing on the red carpet at awards shows in the late 1970s and 1980s, Reinking started incorporating more and more jewelry into her looks, including many of the pieces that will appear at the auction.

According to Bonhams, she favored diamonds and sapphires, and her pieces in the auction include many examples of the combination.

There is a pair of sapphire and diamond earclips from Tiffany as well as a sapphire and diamond ring from the jeweler, and a sapphire and diamond necklace and bracelet.

Other Reinking pieces up for auction include an opal and diamond necklace; a brooch featuring a pair of carnelian cherries, nephrite jade leaves, and round diamonds; a ruby and diamond Cartier necklace; a blue topaz and 14-karat gold necklace; and a few pieces from American manufacturer and design house Hammerman Brothers.

See: Other Notable Lots in the Dec. 6 Sale

This Bulgari ring centers on a rectangular emerald-cut Ceylon sapphire, weighing 48.38 carats, flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds and mounted in platinum ($500,000-$800,000)

Round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 12.40 carats, accented with more round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 1.15 total carats in 18-karat white gold ($250,000-$450,000)

A circa 1930 ring centered on a cushion mixed-cut 5.39-carat sapphire, accented with single-cut diamonds and set in platinum ($275,000-$375,000)

Aside from Reinking’s estate, other notable lots in the jewelry auction include a 48.38-carat unheated Celyon sapphire and diamond ring, estimated to sell for between $500,000-$800,000, and a ring centered on a 12.40-carat round brilliant-cut diamond ($250,000-$450,000).

There is also a ring set with a 5.39-carat unheated Kashmir sapphire in a frame of diamonds, estimated at $275,000 to $375,000; a 0.94-carat fancy vivid blue-green diamond ring with fancy intense pink and colorless diamond accents ($140,000-$240,000); and a circa 1910 Cartier ring featuring an 18.60-carat sapphire and pear-shaped diamond accents ($120,000-$220,000).

To see all lots in the Dec. 6 jewelry auction, visit Bonhams.com.