Betsy Bloomingdale. Photography Credit: Photographer unknown, courtesy of the Estate of Betsy Bloomingdale
“To me style, in anything you do, whether dressing, entertaining, collecting, whatever, is a sureness of choice. It can be learned, it can be developed, but to be successful, it mustn’t be perceived.” –Betsy Bloomingdale
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. Bloomingdale’s Hollywood Regency villa, one of the final remaining extant and complete commissions by designer William Haines. The collection will be on view at Christie’s 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 Christie’s 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 catalogue’s 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. Bloomingdale’s 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 Christie’s 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, Christie’s 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 $20,000–30,000
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
Lot 253. Joe Eula (American, 1925-2004), Sketches of Betsy Bloomingdale (three works). Estimate USD 500 - USD 1,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
each signed and dated 'Eula 61' (two lower right; one lower left), charcoal on paper, each 25 x 18 ¾ in. (63.5 x 47.6 cm.) (3)
Lot 271. A Christian Dior Couture red crêpe gown with asymmetrical neckline and boned bodice. Estimate USD 2,000 - USD 4,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Lot 254. Cecil Beaton (British, 1904-1980), Portrait of Betsy Bloomingdale reading. Estimate $1,000-1,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
signed 'Beaton' (lower right), pencil and gouache on paper, 19 x 12 ½ in. (48.3 x 31.8 cm.)
Lot 167. A cultured pearl, coral and onyx tassel pendant necklace. EstimateUSD 2,000 - USD 4,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Suspending a coral bead and cultured pearl tassel, with sculpted gold cap and roped gold links, to the onyx hoop pendant and multi-strand cultured pearl necklace, length adjustable, mounted in gold
Lot 166. A pair of coral, cultured pearl and diamond ear clips, by David Webb. Estimate USD 3,000 - USD 5,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Each centering upon a bombé carved and fluted coral plaque, enhanced by a circular-cut diamond and sculpted gold partial surround of foliate motif, set at the top with a cultured button pearl within a black enamel and gold collar, 1 3/8 ins., mounted in 18k gold. Signed Webb for David Webb
FINE ART HIGHLIGHTS
Lot 29. Odilon Redon (1840-1916), Orchidée fantastique, signed with initials 'Od.R.' (lower left), gouache and watercolor over pencil on paper, 9 ¾ x 6 ¾ in. (24.7 x 17.2 cm.). EstimateUSD 20,000 - USD 30,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Provenance: César de Hauke, New York.
Hardinge C. Scholle, Washington, D.C. (by 1931).
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (gift from the above, 1958); sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, Inc., New York, 4 November 1982, lot 38.
Fran and Ray Stark, Los Angeles (acquired at the above sale).
Gift from the above to the late owner, March 2004.
Literature: Parnassus, "List of Important Redons in the United States," April 1931, vol. III, no. IV, p. 37.
A. Wildenstein, Odilon Redon, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint et dessiné, Paris, 1996, vol. III, p. 18, no. 1351 (illustrated).
Exhibited: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1928.
New York, The Museum of Modern Art, Lautrec, Redon, February-March 1931, p. 27, no. 86.
Lot 41. Anna Mary Robertson 'Grandma' Moses (1860-1961), The Old Home, 13 March 1949, signed MOSES lower right, oil on board, 5¼ x 7¼ in. (13.3 x 18.2 cm.) EstimateUSD 8,000 - USD 12,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Lot 133. Vũ Cao Đàm (French-Vietnamese, 1908-2000), Le Retour, signed, dated, titled and inscribed with characters 'Le retour/ Vũ Cao Đàm/ 1964' (on the reverse), oil on canvas, 36 ¼ x 28 ¾ in. (92.1 x 73 cm.). Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017
Provenance: with Wally Findlay Gallery, New York.
