Home » News » London, UK – Sotheby’s London to auction Vivien Leigh’s personal collection on 26th September

London, UK – Sotheby’s London to auction Vivien Leigh’s personal collection on 26th September

3 mins read

vivien-leighThe passage of time renders worthless, all that we spend huge resources to covet, cherish and protect. The beautiful Hollywood actress Vivian Leigh’s personal collection is up for sale, organized by Sotheby’s London. The legendary Star two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her iconic performances as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in the film version of A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). The sale is slated to take place on 26th September, 2017.

The sale will see pieces from her personal collection comprising of paintings, jewellery, couture, books, furniture, porcelain, objects d’art and further items – celebrating all the various aspects of her life, from the pre-war years in London, to Hollywood and beyond, up to her death in 1967.Myriad pieces drawn from the city and country homes Vivien shared with her husband Laurence Oliver will give a new perspective on Vivien, from her appreciation of art and patronage of Modern British artists, to her passion for books and fondness for entertaining and interior design. Here are some details.  

vivien-leigh-awardA wedding present to Vivien Leigh and Laurence Oliver from Katharine Hepburn, their ‘snappy maid of honour’: an inscribed silver goblet by Georg Jensen (est. £8,000-12,000)

Vivien’s diaries, comprising black leather-bound Smythson appointment diary, dating from 10 January 1937 to 25 November 1939, giving a unique insight into Vivien’s personal and professional life at the time she was catapulted to fame in her mid-twenties and first fell in love with Laurence Olivier (est. £2,000-3,000), and Vivien’s small brown leather Fortnum & Mason diary from 1953, embossed with ‘voVivien’ in gold on the cover and listing contact details for all her favourite friends, hotels, restaurants, theatres, jewellers and couturiers (est. £1,000-1,500)

Vivien’s monogrammed art bag, with the initials ‘V.O.’ (est. £80-120)

The Romeo and Juliet Cigarillos Box, commemorating Vivien and Larry’s stage production of Shakespeare’s play in New York in 1940 (est. £400-600)

– The ‘V.L.O’ Attaché Case, stamped Asprey, circa1955 (est. £500-700)

– A watercolour by Roger Kemble Furse of Vivien Leigh Reading with Tissy, a black-and-white stray adopted by Vivien in the mid-1930s (est. £1,000-1,500)

romeo-juliet-cigarillos Vivien’s monogrammed art bag, with the initials ‘V.O.’ (est. £80-120)

– Vivien’s writing bureau, mid-18th century, acquired from Asprey in 1949 (est. £600-900) and Vivien’s desk box, early 19th century (est. £400-600)

– Vivien’s monogrammed luggage, all monogrammed V.L.O., and two black leather luggage labels with insert name cards printed ‘Lady Olivier’ (est. £800-1,200)

– A collection of awards and certificates including Vivien’s certification of nomination for ‘Best Actress’ as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (est. £1,500-2,000)

– Album of photographic stills from Gone with the Windcirca1939 (est. £3,000-5,000)

vivien-desk-box– The Notley Mirror, a superb 18th-century carved giltwood mirror (est. £10,000-15,000)

– A document signed “Elizabeth R”commanding Sir Thomas Heneage to pay £133 6s. 8d., to her chief almoner Richard Fletcher, Bishop of Worcester, or his assistant John Dix, as Maundy money for distribution during Holy Week, 7 April 1593 (est. £9,000-12,000)

photographic-stills– First edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, the first James Bond novel, 1953 (est. £7,000-9,000)

– Laurence Olivier’s working copy of Hamletfor his acclaimed 1948 film, with his annotations and extensive edits throughout, included as part of a 38 (of 40) volume set prince-walesof The Works of William Shakespeare, published in London, 1893-1895 (est. £5,000-7,000)

– The ‘Prince of Wales’ model theatre, made circa1840 and reputedly acquired by Olivier in 1945 (est. £5,000-7,000)

 

Related Articles

Leave a Comment


This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy