Ring made from Marion Davies' brooch, a gift from W.R. Hearst, at Heritage Auctions Dec. 7

A rare glimpse into the personal life of media magnate William Randolph Hearst, via a gift to his mistress, actress Marion Davies, part of Heritage Auctions' Dec. 7 Fine Jewelry Auction

DALLAS, TX - A gentleman's gold ring with a Cat's-Eye Chrysoberyl from a brooch given to 1930s starlet Marion Davies by her then-lover, famed and controversial publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, provides the sparkle of classic Hollywood and the heyday of American print when it comes on the block as part of Heritage Auctions' Dec. 7-9 Signature® Jewelry Auction in Dallas. It is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

The ring has been consigned to Heritage Auctions by Davies' step-son, Kendall Brown.

Brown was only a teenager when he already was being mentioned in the gossip columns of famed Hollywood writer Louella Parsons. It was the 1950s and Brown was keeping company with some of America?s most well-known celebrities: His father, Horace, had a small role in Gone with the Wind, and appeared as a bit player in numerous Hollywood movies. Along the way, the elder Brown befriended media mogul William Randolph Hearst and his live-in lover Marion Davies.

In the months following Hearst?s death in August 1951, the relationship between Davies and Brown blossomed and the two were soon married (Horace?s own wife had died 10 years earlier). Visitors to the home included Clark Gable, Dick Powell, Glenn Ford, Mary Pickford and Joe Kennedy.

Ken Brown and his brothers were immediately thrust into the celebrity spotlight.

?We were in Life magazine,? said Brown, now 77. ?One day, (champion boxer) Jack Dempsey?s daughter showed up at our home in Beverly Hills to meet us, and we started dating.?

The first Christmas after his father married Davies, the actress gave her new husband and step-sons cat?s eye rings made from one of her favorite brooches.

?I later learned that Hearst had given Marion the brooch on one of their trips to Europe,? Brown said. ?It was a special gift.?

Brown?s father - who died in 1972 - lost his ring, while those given to his brothers are now in private hands. Brown decided the time was right to offer his ring at Heritage Auctions? upcoming jewelry auction.

?People today see Marion Davies as William Randolph Hearst?s mistress,? Brown says. ?In those days living with somebody was taboo. She was much more than that, though. She was a smart woman. She was adventurous. She was a pilot and flew her own plane. She was charitable and gave to children?s hospitals. Marion was the nicest person I ever met in my lifetime and we all loved her very much.?

This beautiful ring, with an unimpeachable provenance leading straight back to Davies' herself and from her straight to her favorite gift from William Randolph Hearst, is a wonderful piece of jewelry in its own right and a wonderful piece of American pop culture due to its relationship to Hearst and Davies, both two of the most controversial figures of their day.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world?s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 475,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

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