From her chic wardrobe to her sophisticated art collection, the late Lee Radziwill was known for refined taste. This fall, objects on which the style icon built her famed reputation will hit the auction block.
Christie’s has announced it will sell objects from Radziwill’s estate in New York in October. The full details of the sale will be announced in the coming weeks, but Christie’s promises it will “offer a glimpse into Ms. Radziwill’s fascinating life, spanning her years as a prominent socialite, princess, designer, and witness to a momentous era in American history.”
Offerings include selections from Radziwill’s art collection, as well as jewelry, books, photographs, and other items. Take a look at one of the many magazine spreads done on her ornate homes in New York, Paris, and London—each filled with exotic fabrics and custom-designed furniture—or read about her friendships with Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Marc Jacobs, and The Rolling Stones, and you can get a sense of what to expect.
Interior view of Lee Radziwill’s New York townhouse. Courtesy of Christie’s.
While Radiziwill often struggled to get out from under the shadow of her sister, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she pursued careers—to varying success—as an actress, interior designer, writer, and fashion executive. She married three times, most notably to the Polish Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwill, making her a princess.
“Lee Radziwill is remembered by all who knew her as a symbol of sophistication and connoisseurship, with a fascinating life story,” Marc Porter, Christie’s Chairman of the Americas, said in a statement. “It will be Christie’s honor to share Ms. Radziwill’s personal collection with the world this October, as we invite an international audience of collectors, designers, tastemakers, and admirers to join us as we pay tribute to such an extraordinary life and legacy.”
Radziwill died on February 15 of this year at the age of 85. Her Upper East Side townhouse, where she had lived for 30 years, went on sale for $5.7 million this spring.