Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire: The Last of the Mitford Sisters, Sotheby’s London, 34-35 New Bond Street, London W1, 2ndMarch 2016
Lot 111 – David Dawson
DEBORAH, DOWAGER DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE AND ‘SKEWBALD MARE’, 2004
Estimate 400 — 600
Chromogenic print. Signed, dated and titled ‘Lucian’s Studio’ in black felt tip pen on the reverse. Mounted and framed.
sheet: 20.3 x 25.3 cm, 8 x 10 in.; image: 19 x 21.5 cm, 7 ½ x 8 ½ in
A lady of great, presence, elegance and taste and very much to my mind an archetypal Duchess. One can, through her writings, understand why she was so respected and admired. Now following her death in 2014 some of her personal belongings come to what I am sure will be a memorable and nostalgic auction.
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
Her family have said: “Our mother was very clear about how things should be organised following her death. She left precise instructions for a large number of personal legacies and specific bequests to the Chatsworth House Trust, and the remainder of her possessions she left to us. Given the kind of person she was, and the rich and varied life she led, there are more belongings than we can together accommodate. We are keeping items that are particularly precious to us, but we have made the decision to consign the remainder to Sotheby’s. Our mother was always fascinated by the auction process, so we feel sure she would be delighted at the prospect of this sale and would be very happy to know that some of her possessions were to go to new homes where they will be cherished and enjoyed.”
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
In the words of David MacDonald, the specialist in charge of the sale, “This auction paints a vivid picture of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, featuring mementoes, objects and pictures that tell the story of her remarkable life. A friend to many of the people who shaped her generation, she herself was a writer, an entrepreneur, a patron of the arts, and a much-admired beauty who also had the knack of absorbing the influences of other designers and decorators to develop her own style. The objects with which she chose to surround herself in her final home, the Old Vicarage at Edensor, were often moving, funny, or both, and usually had marvellous stories attached. The items in this sale capture the very essence of this endlessly captivating woman.”
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
Henry Wyndham, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe commented: “What is particularly wonderful about the sale is not only the sense one gets of the personal taste of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, but also of the value she placed on these objects that she chose to take with her from Chatsworth to the ‘Old Vic’. Together they form a rich collage that tells a remarkable story. I am sure the Duchess would have been quietly amused by this auction, and would undoubtedly have enjoyed correcting our cataloguers on the breed or species of animal which feature in many of her pictures. She would also have enjoyed telling the stories her possessions carry with them, as many of the lots have been ‘touched’ by the great and the good of the 20th century, among whose number Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire must certainly be counted.”
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
Even without the above comments the picture one gets from the lots in the catalogue is of a person of style, wit and character – and I respectfully suggest one of the last of her kind.
Lot 433 – Gem set and diamond brooch, late 19th century
Estimate 1,000 — 1,500
Designed as a bumblebee, set with circular-cut diamonds, the body and head accented with a cabochon ruby and a circular-cut emerald, with sapphire eyes.
http://www.sothebys.com
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
The Old Vicarage, Edensor
(c) Sotheby’s
Lot 47 – Her Grace’s Collection of Elvis Presley Ephemera
Estimate 500 — 1,000
comprising:
An E.P.E. Official Product Telemania limited edition novelty ‘Singing and Dancing Telephone’ (C) 1996, cased
Two key-rings
A small printed circular box
Two plastic bags from Graceland
An ‘Easy Come Easy Go’ record, published Camden Records, 1972, now moulded into a bowl
A simulated ‘Elvis’ 1 dollar note
Five Elvis fridge magnets
A ‘Tiny Tomes / Elvis The Legend’ miniature book
Two Elvis button fridge magnets
Two small tins of breath mints
A printed fabric hanging ‘Graceland’ from the Andy Warhol Collection produced by Andrew Martin
Elvis Presley’s Graceland, The Ultimate Graceland Tour DVD, Elvis Presley Foundation 2007
‘The King’ printed porcelain mug
A Franklin Mint wristwatch hung with charms, cased
A tin of Elvis Presley playing cards
Two further packs of playing cards
Two RCA cassettes ‘Amazing Grace – His Greatest Sacred Performance’
A portable ‘Legends’ ashtray
A ‘Legends’ lady’s compact mirror
Two German magazines with accompanying DVD free gift
A tin sign printed ‘He Dared to Rock July, 5, 1954, That’s All Right’
Five Christmas Tree Elvis inspired decorations
A polychrome resin Elvis and surfboard ornament
A ‘Bradford Exchange’ King of Rock and Roll ornament
A painted ceramic wall plaque by Janice Raynor, A Ms Understood Prod. 2007, titled That’s Alright Mama, exhibited Elvis’s Teddy Has Left The Building, Newtown NSW, Australia
A Zadig & Voltaire printed navy long sleeve t-shirt ‘Love Forever Elvis’, size large
A knitted British new wool Elvis Presley scarf by Jean Birch-Leonard
A Wrebbit 350 piece 3-D jigsaw puzzle of Graceland
A modern The King birthday card and plain Born to Rock postcard
A ‘Grow The King’ expandable toy
Alf Burnell, three quarter length portrait of Elvis Presley, acrylic on canvas
A pair of Mexican Elvis bottle top pendant evening earrings
An E.P.E. cardboard cut-out, (almost life-size) of ‘The King’
Mann, May, Special Collector’s Edition, Elvis and the Colonel, Drake Pub. Ltd. New York, 1977
Keogh, Pamela Clarke, Elvis Presley, The Man. The Life. The Legend., Simon & Schuster, London, 2004
Presley, Lisa Marie (fwd), Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Official Guidebook, E.P.E. Graceland, rev. ed. 2009
An E.P.E. 2011 Official Elvis Calendar
BMG records presentation disc set, framed and glazed, Presented to The Duchess of Devonshire / In recognition for her continued support of Elvis Presley from BMG records and The Day Team at Chatsworth
Five Elvis Presley records
Two Boxed sets of CD compilations, one with commemorative ‘Collectable Stamps’
A vintage Elvis Presley pocket knife printed ‘Elvis Presley King of Rock n’ Roll 1935-1977′
Three modern photographic prints of Elvis Presley (two the same image)
An RCA 7″ of The Wonder of You and Mama Liked the Roses, 1974
An Elvis / Summer Festival / Las Vegas Hilton / Complimentary Menu
Hand, A (ed.) Elvis Monthly, no. 5, 5th Year, 1964
Four modern photographic prints by Alfred Wertheimer; Going Home; Elvis Sings to the Hound Dog; A-Frame; Grilled Cheese 20 Cents, published by the New York Times, each signed l/l in ink by A. Wertheimer
Tim Forrest's E & A 