Member-only story

The Fascinating Life of Millicent Rogers: An American Heiress Who Changed the World of Jewelry

Clark Bell

·4.7k Followers· Follow

Published in Searching For Beauty: The Life Of Millicent Rogers The American Heiress Who Taught The World About Style

5 min read

659 View Claps

95 Respond

Save

Listen

Millicent Rogers was an American heiress, socialite, jewelry designer, and art collector who lived from 1879 to 1953. She was known for her lavish lifestyle, her exquisite jewelry collection, and her groundbreaking work in promoting Native American art and culture.

Searching for Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers, the American Heiress Who Taught the World About Style

by Cherie Burns

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1887 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	384 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Early Life and Family

Millicent Rogers was born on July 11, 1879, in New York City. She was the daughter of Henry Huttleston Rogers, a wealthy oil tycoon and financier, and Abbie Aldrich Rockefeller, a member of the prominent Rockefeller family. Millicent had two sisters, Anne and Mary.

Rogers' childhood was marked by privilege and luxury. She attended private schools and traveled extensively with her family. She developed a passion for art and jewelry from a young age, and she began collecting jewelry at the age of 12.

Marriage and Personal Life

In 1902, Millicent Rogers married William Kemble Rhinelander II, a wealthy New Yorker. The couple had two children, William Kemble III and Antoinette. However, the marriage was unhappy and ended in divorce in 1913.

After her divorce, Rogers moved to Paris, where she lived a bohemian lifestyle and became involved in the art world. She met many influential artists and intellectuals, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Gertrude Stein.

In 1924, Rogers married Edmund Bartlett, a New York banker. The couple had one child, Nicolas. They lived in California for many years, where Rogers continued to collect art and jewelry.

Jewelry Design and Native American Art

Rogers was a gifted jewelry designer, and she is credited with popularizing the use of Native American motifs and materials in jewelry. She traveled extensively throughout the American Southwest and Mexico, where she collected Native American jewelry and studied the techniques of Native American artisans.

Rogers' jewelry designs were eclectic and innovative. She combined traditional Native American elements with modern materials and designs. Her jewelry was often bold and colorful, and it featured intricate beadwork, turquoise, and silver.

Rogers was a passionate advocate for Native American art and culture. She helped to establish the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe, and she donated many of her Native American artifacts to the museum.

Legacy

Millicent Rogers was a remarkable woman who lived a life of adventure and creativity. She was a pioneer in the world of jewelry design, and she helped to raise awareness of Native American art and culture. Her legacy continues to inspire jewelry designers and art collectors today.

Rogers' jewelry is still highly sought-after by collectors, and it is often displayed in museums and galleries around the world. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including a major retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1996.

Millicent Rogers was a true original. She was a woman of style, taste, and vision. Her work has had a lasting impact on the world of jewelry design, and her passion for Native American art and culture continues to inspire people today.