AUCTION: WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 AT 10AM
From a Doyle New York Press Release: Fashion designers, Hollywood celebrities, museum curators and prominent social figures will gather at Doyle New York when two centuries of fashion history go on the auction block on Wednesday, May 22 at 10am. The public is invited to the exhibition on view from Saturday, May 18 through Monday, May 20. Doyle is located at 175 East 87th Street in Manhattan.
The opulent selection of gowns by the world’s most legendary couturiers will be complemented by a luxurious array of important costume jewelry by Chanel and Miriam Haskell, handbags by Hermès and Gucci, and trunks by Louis Vuitton, as well as scarves, accessories and a panoply of textiles from around the world. A special section of the auction, lots 1-62, will be devoted to property from the estate of Fashion Editor Carrie Donovan. Highlights of this section include two whimsical caricature drawings of Ms. Donovan by Al Hirschfeld.
The auction offers the opportunity to bid on an unusual number of fashion rarities. Among these are a large group of exquisite American Empire period gowns including a rare pelisse, a pair of late 18th century silk brocade shoes with clogs, a three peice knit accessory ensemble, circa 1930, by Chanel, and a colorful 1979 silk-screened blouse by Contemporary artist Roy Lichtenstein. Further rare material is a group of 27 letters hand written in French in the 1930s and ’40s by Mariano Fortuny, probably to the painter Rene Piot. Of interest to film enthusiasts will be an opulent beaded dress, circa 1926, from the wardrobe of the great silent film star Theda Bara, and the sensational fringed beaded gown worn by Winona Ryder at the 1994 Academy Awards ceremony. Lovers of the color red will delight in an array of brilliant pieces by designers such as Scassi, Trigere, Halston, Dior and Montana. Other highlights will be an evening gown by Adrian printed with lambs frolicking in a fenced-in meadow, and a striking 1917 military-style velvet and fur-trimmed evening coat of blue silk designed by Paul Poiret.
INFORMATION AND CATALOGUES:
Bidders my contact Jan Reeder or Linda Donahue at (212) 427-4141 ext. 208 or email couture@DoyleNewYork.com. To order a printed catalogue, please call Subscriptions (212) 427-4141, ext. 257, or email subscriptions@DoyleNewYork.com. The free Internet version of the auction catalogue will be available prior to the sale in the “Catalogues” section on the Doylenewyork.com website.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Louis LeB. Webre, Vice President, Marketing and Media,
212-427-4141, ext 232 or email louis@DoyleNewYork.com .
Images and interviews are available upon request.
