#2 • Provenance

Part of Eclectic Warwick on the James (timed auction by Walnut Hill Auctions)

Starting at $5,000.00

Status: No sale

Zuelia Ann Hurt Designer-Consultant, Author (and Collector)   At the very young age of 3 Ann started needle-crafting items which, unknown at the time, turned into a lifetime commitment with an exciting career in New York City. ​Her career started at Simplicity Pattern Co. Inc. in the early ‘60’s, as assistant in the Editorial Department for their sewing publications but within two weeks received her first promotion to give Company Tours to scholastic groups. Surprise … Her first tour was composed of fashion design students including her Major Professor from Ann’s Alma Mater, VPI&SU! Other promotions continued until she reached her goal of becoming a part of their Design Department. ​Because of Ann’s vast experiences in multiple needle-arts and sewing for the home, Simplicity’s President appointed her to create and design for their newly designated “Crafts and Home Furnishings” Division, a first within the Home Sewing Industry. Her most iconic design for Simplicity was the first “Holly Hobbie” doll, a soft-sculptured sweetie under licensing with American Greetings, making history in its First Day of sales - selling more copies than any other single pattern’s total sales in the Company’s then 34-year history. The division grew to have a separate Counter Catalog for these specialty designs.   Ann has enjoyed traveling throughout the USA, Europe and exotic places, collecting interesting objects along the way,resulting in the very eclectic collection presented through Walnut Hill Auctions. Textiles have always been a prominentinterest, herself also being a hand-weaver. Numerous trips to the Southwest’s Indigenous Nations led to gathering their creative works.   Continuing her career, Ann became self-employed designing and consulting with most shelter magazines and book publishers. She also started an interior design business with a construction workroom for fabricated home items.