Page 148 - Bonhams Passkon and Philanthropy MET Mjuseum March 2024 Asia Week

Annie C. Kane (1857-1926)

Annie Cottenet Schermerhorn Kane (1857–1926) was the daughter
of William Colford Schermerhorn (1821-1903), a New York lawyer
and philanthropist, who was a patron of The Metropolitan Museum
of Art and the Museum of Natural History, and was a major donor to
Columbia University, where he served as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees. Annie married John Innes Kane (1850-1913), who was from
one of the oldest New York families, and was the great-grandson
of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848). The couple participated in New
York high society and were patrons of numerous institutions. Mr.
Kane served on the Advisory Board of the Cooper Union Museum.
Mrs. Kane built an impressive collection of European furniture and
decorative arts, including a much-lauded 16th-century Flemish
tapestry (acc. no. 26.260.59), and several Qing dynasty porcelains,
which she bequeathed to The Metropolitan Museum of Art upon her
death. She also left $4 million to New York City charities, including a
gift of $1,000,000 to Columbia University, in honor of her father.
Sources:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3256046
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Colford_Schermerhorn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Innes_Kane
https://nyti.ms/3O8U71I

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