Analysis
Lauren Bacall Auction Lures Collectors In Search of Hollywood Glamour
On March 31, Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall’s personal curios hit the auction block for the second time (the first auction was held last November) in New York at Bonhams auction house. The sale will continue today.
No surprise here, collectors and fans turned out in droves for the morning and afternoon festivities to bid for the screen goddess’ 740-piece collection including jewelry, evening wear, aboriginal art, English and French furniture, and antique items.
Among the lots that did unexpectedly well were a hand-colored drawing by John James Audubon, titled American White Pelican (1836), which fetched $173,000—more than three times the estimated value and a black granite table, that went for $26,250—almost nine times its estimate.
Collectors even had the opportunity to snare items related to her marriage to legendary on-screen co-star Humphrey Bogart and sculptures by English artist Henry Moore. The first sale in November of last year saw two bronzes by the English artist go for a collective $1.34 million (see Lauren Bacall’s Art Collection to Hit Auction in Widely Anticipated Second Sale) .
The auction will resume today and all proceeds from the sale will go to her three children. The apartment in which the actress died last August at the age of 89 is also on the market for a cool $26 million (see Remembering Lauren Bacall, Screen Goddess and Art Collector).
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