A Glimpse of Grandeur Featuring David Webb
Nadeau’s Auction Gallery is honored to present exquisite pieces from David Webb, get exclusive first look at the top pieces coming up in our Annual New Years Day Auction to take place on January 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST. Please contact us at 860-246-2444 or info@nadeausauction.com for further inquiries.
These five David Webb pieces are the highlight of our upcoming New Year’s Day sale. From the Estate of Nina Silberstein of New York, New York these pieces have amazing provenance to be further detailed in the official listings. Our highest grossing sale of the year is our Annual New Year’s Day Auction which features over 200 lots of fine jewelry, over 50 lots of silver, gold, over 100 lots of fine art, over 200 lots of furniture, and other high-end merchandise. Our January 1st sale takes in on average over $2,000,000 with $500,000 to $1,000,000 being in jewelry alone. We started running on this date over 30 years ago and it quickly became a company tradition that our clientele looks forward to.
DAVID WEBB (American, 1925–1975)
Jeweler and Designer
Founder of the David Webb Company, New York City
Born in 1925 in Asheville, North Carolina, David Webb began his journey in the world of jewelry at a young age, working in his uncle’s silversmith shop. His natural affinity for metalwork and design was evident early on, and by the age of seventeen, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in jewelry.
Largely self-taught, Webb immersed himself in the decorative arts, regularly visiting institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection, where he studied ancient, classical, and global motifs. His deep appreciation for art and history became a defining source of inspiration throughout his career.
“Jewels, though more personal than paintings, should be treated as great works of art, which they surely are.”
— David Webb
Webb opened his first jewelry workshop in New York with the support of philanthropist Antoinette Quilleret in 1948. Webb’s success was swift and he soon purchased full ownership of the firm and established the David Webb Company, which would go on to become one of the most iconic American jewelry houses of the 20th century. The company was headquartered on 57th Street, and later moved to Madison Avenue, where it remains today.
Webb’s designs are characterized by their bold scale, vivid enamel, and use of carved semi-precious stones such as coral, turquoise, jade, rock crystal, and malachite. Drawing influence from Ancient Egypt, India, China, African art, and Art Deco design, his work fused historical references with a distinctly modern sensibility. Signature motifs included animal bracelets (zebras, tigers, frogs, and leopards), Maltese crosses, and striking geometrics in gold and enamel.
His clientele was as exceptional as his work. Webb’s jewelry was worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the Duchess of Windsor (Wallis Simpson), Diana Vreeland, Grace Kelly, Lana Turner, Doris Duke, and Barbra Streisand, among many others. His designs became synonymous with high fashion and American luxury in the 1960s and 1970s.
David Webb died in 1975 at the age of 50. After his death, the company was led by his long-time business partner, Nina Silberstein, who had worked closely with Webb during his lifetime and continued to champion his artistic legacy.
Today, the David Webb Company still operates out of its Madison Avenue flagship, producing jewelry using many of the original molds, sketches, and techniques that Webb developed. His work is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Arts and Design, and the Norton Museum of Art, among others.
NINA SILBERSTEIN (c. 1922 – 2025)
President & CEO, David Webb Inc.
Pioneering Executive and Guardian of a Design Legacy
Nina Silberstein was a visionary business leader and central figure in the preservation and success of the David Webb jewelry house. Hired in 1948 as a bookkeeper when David Webb and Antoinette Quilleret co-founded the company in New York, Silberstein quickly became indispensable. As her responsibilities expanded alongside a growing friendship with Webb, she helped shape the company’s growth and internal culture.
When David Webb passed away in 1975 at age 50, Silberstein (then President of David Webb Inc.) and her family continued his legacy. It was a singular achievement—making her the first woman in the United States to lead a major fine jewelry house. Her leadership came at a time of transformation in both business and the arts, and she emerged as a quiet trailblazer in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
“I was a woman in business long before it became fashionable.”
— Nina Silberstein, as recalled by longtime employee Kevin Parker
Under her direction, the David Webb Company retained its commitment to handcrafted production, operating from its original New York City workshop. Silberstein ensured the preservation of over 40,000 original design sketches, molds, and records, continuing the creation of Webb’s bold, historically inspired pieces long after his death. Her stewardship kept the brand visible in both private collections and museum acquisitions while fostering the loyalty of a devoted clientele.
“I cared about people. I didn’t treat them like objects, I treated them like human beings. I hear from a lot of people — the customers call me, what can I tell you? It was my business, and the customers were friends.”
— Nina Silberstein
Silberstein remained president of the company for more than three decades, overseeing its evolution and growth. In 2010, she and her family sold the business to new ownership, entrusting it to a leadership group committed to maintaining its heritage. She continued to be engaged in the firm’s activities well into her later years, and was witness to the growing recognition of David Webb’s cultural and artistic significance.
Nina Silberstein passed away in 2025, at the age of 103. Her legacy includes rare, one-of-a-kind pieces custom made by David Webb for her personally—testaments to their enduring partnership and shared creative vision.
