NEW YORK, NY.- Christie's announces the release of the sale catalogue for the auction of Betsy Bloomingdale: A Life in Style, featuring the contents of Mrs. Bloomingdales Hollywood Regency villa, one of the final remaining extant and complete commissions by designer William Haines. The collection will be on view at Christies New York April 1-4 with a live auction on April 5 and online sale March 30-April 6.
Mrs. Bloomingdale was a figure synonymous with glamor, philanthropy, and Los Angeles society. The collection presented at Christies complements its owner presenting approximately 300 lots of enduring style comprised of William Haines design, antique furniture, works of art, Chinese and European porcelain, fashion, jewelry, and accessories.
Among the objects revealed with the catalogues release are iconic couture pieces by Christian Dior, Oscar de la Renta, and Valentino, complete with hand-written notecards by Mrs. Bloomingdale marking what occasion each piece was worn, complemented by an offering of jewelry and accessories. The sale includes an expansive medley of signature pieces of William Haines design, represented by furniture, lamps, and decorative objects. Antique highlights include the Early George III Mahogany Dining Table, circa 1760 (estimate: $10,000-20,000) and the Set of Fourteen George III Mahogany Dining Chairs (estimate: $20,000-30,000), that often set the stage for Mrs. Bloomingdales celebrated dinners and included some of the most well-known names in Hollywood, politics, business, and fashion.
The online sale taking place March 30-April 6, will be on view at Christies New York concurrently, and is broken into two sections: Life, comprising of William Haines design, art and antiques, entertaining-ware, and books, many of which feature personal dedications; and Style comprising of clothing, accessories and jewelry.
Together the auctions encompass nearly 300 lots with estimates on individual items ranging from under $1,000 up to $40,000 and are expected to realize in excess of $1 million. In December 2016, Christies auctioned a collection of 12 pieces of jewelry belonging to Mrs. Bloomingdale, in which 100% lots offered were sold, totaling over $4 million.
FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS HIGHLIGHTS
A SUITE OF 'SENIAH' SEAT FURNITURE BY WILLIAM HAINES, CIRCA 1960 $10,000-15,000
A QUEEN ANNE BLACK AND GILT JAPANNED BUREAU CABINET, EARLY 18TH CENTURY $10,000-15,000
A PAIR OF CREAM AND CELADON LACQUERED SWING ARM BEDSIDE TABLES BY WILLIAM HAINES, CIRCA 1960 $10,000-15,000
A CREAM-PAINTED LEATHER VENEERED BUTTON-TUFTED LONG SOFA BY WILLIAM HAINES, CIRCA 1960 $10,000-15,000
A PAIR OF PALE CELADON-LACQUER AND CHINESE PORCELAIN TABLE LAMPS BY WILLIAM HAINES, CIRCA 1960 $8,000-12,000
AN EARLY GEORGE III MAHOGANY GATE-LEG D-END DINING TABLE CIRCA 1760 $15,000-25,000
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY BREAKFRONT LIBRARY BOOKCASE LAST QUARTER 18TH CENTURY $20,000-40,000
A SET OF FOURTEEN GEORGE II MAHOGANY DINING CHAIRS THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY $20,00030,000
DINING AND ENTERTAINING HIGHLIGHTS
A ROYAL COPENHAGEN "FLORA DANICA" PART DINNER SERVICE 20TH CENTURY $30,000-50,000
A SCOTTISH CUT-GLASS PART STEMWARE SERVICE 20TH CENTURY $1,500-$2,000
A GROUP OF NINE CUT-GLASS DECANTERS AND STOPPERS 20TH CENTURY $1,500-2,000
A VICTORIAN ELECTRO-PLATED THREE PIECE GARNITURE 19TH CENTURY $1,000-1,500
FASHION AND JEWELLERY HIGHLIGHTS
JOE EULA (AMERICAN, 1925-2004) SKETCHES OF MRS. BLOOMINGDALE $500-1,000
A CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE RED CREPE GOWN $2,000-4,000 Included in the Online sale
CECIL BEATON (BRITISH, 1904-1980) Portrait of Betsy Bloomingdale reading $1,000-1,500
A CULTURED PEARL, CORAL AND ONYX TASSEL PENDANT NECKLACE $2,000-4,000
A PAIR OF CORAL, CULTURED PEARL AND DIAMOND EAR CLIPS, BY DAVID WEBB $3,000-5,000
FINE ART HIGHLIGHTS
ODILON REDON (1840-1916) Orchidée fantastique $20,000-30,000
ANNA MARY ROBERTSON GRANDMA MOSES, The Old House $8,000-12,000
VU CAO DAM (1908-2000) Le Retour $20,000-30,000