Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire The Last of the Mitford Sisters and Chatelaine of Chatsworth

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Duchess of Devonshire feeding her chickens at Chatsworth, 1995, wearing a Balmain ball gown and pearls.

1 Sotheby s London Mitzi Mina Mitzi.Mina@Sothebys.com Rosie Chester Rosamund.Chester@Sothebys.com Property from the Personal Collection of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire The Last of the Mitford Sisters and Chatelaine of Chatsworth To be offered at Sotheby s London on 2 nd March 2016 Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire feeding her chickens at Chatsworth, 1995, wearing a Balmain ball gown and pearls. Bruce Weber Property from the personal collection of the inimitable Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire ( ), will be offered at Sotheby s London on 2 nd March The youngest of the Mitford Sisters, and for half a century the chatelaine of Chatsworth, one of England s greatest stately homes, the Duchess was at the very heart of British rural, cultural and political life. Her friends included President Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Lucian Freud, Evelyn Waugh, Alan Bennett, Prince Ali Khan and members of The Royal Family. She was dressed by Hubert de Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, Balmain and Balenciaga, and was photographed by Mario Testino, Bruce Weber and Cecil Beaton. An instinctive entrepreneur, patron of the arts, author, countrywoman and famously a great poultry enthusiast, the Duchess spent the last ten years of her life at The Old Vicarage, a charming 18th-century house in Edensor, a village on the Chatsworth Estate. Over 450 lots of personal belongings and chattels from her home, attesting to her remarkable life, will be offered for sale with estimates ranging from 10 40,000. Together they are estimated to realise 500, ,000. 1

Given the kind of person she was, and the rich and varied life she led, there are more belongings than we can together accommodate.

2 Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire s family commented: 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. David MacDonald, Sotheby s specialist in charge of the sale, added: 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. Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, photographed by Cecil Beaton, December 1949 The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby s Henry Wyndham, Chairman of Sotheby s Europe: 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 Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire s archive of personal correspondence letters, books, manuscripts and documents relating to the Mitford sisters has been left to Chatsworth House Trust, together with her collection of couture clothing. These archives will be accessible to the public in due course. Objects offered in the sale range from furniture, such as exquisite Regency chairs commissioned by Georgiana (the famous wife of the 5 th Duke of Devonshire), to objets d art and artworks acquired by Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, over her lifetime: two sketches by Jacob Epstein (from a set of four, one of which Lucian Freud had used as a coal shovel); photographic portraits of the Mitford sisters; and a clock given to her by Prince Ali Khan. Personal jewellery includes a diamond heart-shaped brooch designed by her husband Andrew, the 11th Duke of Devonshire, and given to her to mark their Diamond wedding anniversary, as well as myriad butterflies, beetles, spiders and caterpillars rendered as brooches in diamonds, gold and gems. Over 130 paintings, drawings and prints attest to her lifelong patronage of the arts, including works by the artists Lucian Freud, Duncan Grant and Jo Self (former artist-in-residence to His Holiness the Dalai Lama). The Old Vicarage, Edensor Following the Duchess s death in 2014, HRH The Prince of Wales praised her unique personality with a wonderfully original approach to life, and this is mirrored throughout the sale. Her beloved collection of Elvis 2

Presley ephemera will be offered, as will items reflecting her love of rural life.

She once treated Oscar de la Renta to dinner at Chatsworth with her hens and chicks nesting in glass boxes as the table centrepiece.

Books inscribed from the Kennedy family attest to her lifelong friendship with the American dynasty. Her brother-in-law, Billy, married Kathleen Kick Kennedy, sister of J.F.K., and through her, the Duchess formed a close friendship with the President and his siblings.

The library s crowning glory is one of only fifty pre-publication copies of Brideshead Revisited from 1944 inscribed by Waugh and estimated at 15,000-20,000.

Chatsworth from 19 March - 3 January 2017. Please find more information on page 7. Images are available to download here. Details of the sale are now online at www.sothebys.com/duchess.

300-500 Gem set and diamond brooch, late 19 th century designed as a bumblebee, A gift from her husband Andrew, 11th Duke of Devonshire, est. 1,000-1,500 The Duchess s jewel case.

3 Presley ephemera will be offered, as will items reflecting her love of rural life. The sale includes Shetland pony harnesses (she owned and bred over fifty ponies), and forty lots relating to perhaps her greatest passion and lifelong interest her hens. She once treated Oscar de la Renta to dinner at Chatsworth with her hens and chicks nesting in glass boxes as the table centrepiece. The sale also includes a pair of monogrammed travelling boxes for poultry and a chick-shaped powder compact. A browse through the Duchess s library reveals some of the lives she touched. Books inscribed from the Kennedy family attest to her lifelong friendship with the American dynasty. Her brother-in-law, Billy, married Kathleen Kick Kennedy, sister of J.F.K., and through her, the Duchess formed a close friendship with the President and his siblings. Among the other volumes are books inscribed by Madonna, Henry Kissinger, and her friend Evelyn Waugh. The library s crowning glory is one of only fifty pre-publication copies of Brideshead Revisited from 1944 inscribed by Waugh and estimated at 15,000-20,000. The sale will be followed by Never a Bore: Deborah Devonshire and Her Set by Cecil Beaton, an exhibition of Cecil Beaton s photographs of the Duchess and her glittering social, that will be staged at Chatsworth from 19 March - 3 January Please find more information on page 7. Images are available to download here. Details of the sale are now online at The full catalogue will be available in February. Sale Highlights A late Victorian brass novelty inkwell in the form of a lobster, circa , est Gem set and diamond brooch, late 19 th century designed as a bumblebee, A gift from her husband Andrew, 11th Duke of Devonshire, est. 1,000-1,500 The Duchess s jewel case. A bespoke red and black leather novelty jewel case in the form of a butterfly by Asprey, London, modern. Specially commissioned by Andrew, 11 th Duke of Devonshire for his wife, est ,200 A pair of aquamarine and diamond clips, 1930s, a wedding gift to the Duchess in April 1941 from her parents-in-law Edward, 10th Duke of Devonshire and Mary, Duchess of Devonshire, est. 2,000-3,000 A Set of Red Deer Antlers, 20th Century sprayed gold by the Duchess and used as a hat stand at Chatsworth, est Model of a hen, by Nicholas Johnson, made from reclaimed pine. A gift from Andrew, 11 th Duke of Devonshire to the Duchess, est. 2,500-3,500 3

1870, a present from Nancy Mitford, est.

and attended the Rio Carnival in 1955 as his guest, est.

heart pierced with an arrow and presented to the Duchess to mark their Diamond

7,000-10,000 English, 20th Century, The Mitford Family, photographic print, 1922,

late 19 th Century, acquired by the Duchess s grandfather, Algernon Bertram

Probably presented to him by Emperor Meiji (1852 1912) of Japan.

4 Camélia Brooch by Chanel, est Breguet, a small and elegant yellow gold open-faced Watch, c.1870, a present from Nancy Mitford, est. 4,000-6,000 Cartier, a small pink gold and quartz horse-form desk clock, a gift from Prince Ali Khan. The Duchess became a friend of the Prince through their shared love of racing, and attended the Rio Carnival in 1955 as his guest, est. 4,000-6,000 Diamond Brooch, designed by Andrew, 11th Duke of Devonshire, as a heart pierced with an arrow and presented to the Duchess to mark their Diamond wedding anniversary in 2001, est. 7,000-10,000 English, 20th Century, The Mitford Family, photographic print, 1922, est A Japanese gilt-decorated lacquer Guardian figure, Meiji period, late 19 th Century, acquired by the Duchess s grandfather, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale ( ), in Japan. Probably presented to him by Emperor Meiji ( ) of Japan. 20,000-30,000 David Dawson, Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire and Skewbald Mare, The Duchess in Lucian Freud s studio alongside a hugely important work, now in the collection at Chatsworth, est The Duchess s collection of Elvis Presley ephemera, including a novelty Elvis telephone previously installed in the Blue Drawing Room at Chatsworth est ,000 4

Joan Didion s The Year of Magical Thinking, (2006).

All the best Madonna ). Given to the Duchess when Madonna visited the Old Vicarage for afternoon tea in 2007, est.

She wrote, In middle age when looking after my own chickens was too complicated, I gathered together pottery and china hens and ducks.

My favourites are a Belgian faïence pair of life-size speckled hens They have given and continue to give, great pleasure, est.

200-300 The Duchess s silver keyring, London, 1975, applied with the letter D, est.

general publication, inviting their suggestions and revisions.

5 Joan Didion s The Year of Magical Thinking, (2006). Presentation copy inscribed by Madonna ( For the Duchess, I hope this book inspires you as much as it inspired me! Thanks for your hospitality. All the best Madonna ). Given to the Duchess when Madonna visited the Old Vicarage for afternoon tea in 2007, est A matched pair of large continental earthenware hen tureens and covers, 19 th Century. Acquired by the Duchess circa She wrote, In middle age when looking after my own chickens was too complicated, I gathered together pottery and china hens and ducks. They are less trouble than the live kind and are ever-present in my bedroom and sitting room. My favourites are a Belgian faïence pair of life-size speckled hens They have given and continue to give, great pleasure, est ,000 Two bespoke pine and plywood travelling poultry boxes, modern, with the specially engraved monogram DD, est The Duchess s silver keyring, London, 1975, applied with the letter D, est A true first edition of Evelyn Waugh s best known novel, Brideshead Revisted, distributed by the author to his inner circle prior to general publication, inviting their suggestions and revisions. One of 50 pre-publication copies, only a small number of which were inscribed by the author ( Debo & Andrew with love from Evelyn A very old fashioned story ). Writing many years later, the Duchess observed: In spite of his uncertain ways, Evelyn remained a friend and a generous one He sent us the limited edition of Brideshead Revisted in its floppy dark blue cover. Est. 15,000-20,000. Sir Jacob Epstein, Two portraits of the Artist s son, Jackie, circa These drawings hung in the Duchess s bedroom at Chatsworth. She writes: The Epstein drawings of his son, aged about three, are powerful and memorable. The first I had was used as a pusher for coal on the floor of his bed-studio by Lucian Freud when I was sitting to him. (Epstein was Lucian s father-in-law for a time). est. 2,500-4,000 5

6 An iron and steel tooth blade from the borer machine used to excavate The Channel Tunnel, circa The Duchess, as a member of the Board of Tarmac, was present when the machine broke through the final section of the Tunnel and was given this as a memento of the day, est ,200 A white-painted plywood counter commissioned by the Duchess from the architect Philip Jebb for the Orangery shop at Chatsworth, circa This followed the Duchess from Chatsworth and was playfully mixed with important William Kent furniture in the Old Vicarage dining room, est Inside the Old Vicarage 6

7 Never a Bore: Deborah Devonshire and Her Set by Cecil Beaton The sale will be followed by Never a Bore: Deborah Devonshire and Her Set by Cecil Beaton, an exhibition of Cecil Beaton s photographs of the Duchess and her glittering social circle, that will be shown at Chatsworth from 19 March January The exhibition takes its inspiration from one of Beaton's most famous remarks: "Perhaps the world's secondworst crime is boredom; the first is being a bore." Beaton was an early house guest of the Devonshires when they moved to Chatsworth in 1959, and captured many candid and relaxed portraits of his friend, Deborah Devonshire. Combined with Cecil Beaton's insightful and witty commentary on many of his subjects, Never a Bore will recreate the essence of the Duchess's world and dazzling social set. This new exhibition presents around 65 photographs from The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, on loan from Sotheby's, along with other rarely-seen items from the Chatsworth archive. On display in the New Gallery, the exhibition is included in the normal house admission. Advance Images available here. For more information and ticketing options visit FOR MORE NEWS FROM SOTHEBY S News & Video: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: Sotheby s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since Sotheby s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby s presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby s Financial Services, the world s only fullservice art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S 2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby s Diamonds and Sotheby s Wine. Sotheby s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID). Estimates do not include buyer s premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer s premium. Images are available upon request All catalogues are available online at or through Sotheby s Catalogue ipad App. 7

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