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Lee Radziwill’s Personal Treasure Trove Comes to Auction

The October 17 sale at Christie’s includes art, costume jewelry, and personal photos taken with her sister, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

By Ashley Petras
Woman in a green dress poses in front of the Taj Mahal with its reflection in the water on a clear day.
Visit of Mrs. John F. Kennedy to India (March 1962) photo album, which includes this color photograph of Jackie standing in front of the Taj Mahal, album estimated for $40,000-$60,000. Photo: Courtesy of Christie's

Socialite, muse, princess, swan—Lee Radziwill collected many titles throughout her glamorous life; however, this fall it’s her role as an interior designer and collector of decorative objects that’s being celebrated. On October 17, exquisite pieces reflecting her unflinching style from her homes in New York and Paris will come to auction at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center as part of the house’s Collector Week sales.

Recommended: Lee Radziwill’s Manhattan Apartment Hits the Market for $5.7 Million

Among the lots of fine and decorative art, costume jewelry, memorabilia, photography, and books is a Peter Beard gelatin silver print that was a personal gift of the artist, a set of four Spanish Colonial retablos that were supplied by design legend Renzo Mongiardino, and personal photographs of Radziwill’s trips to Pakistan and India with her sister Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

See below for more of the most beautiful items going under the hammer.

Gold bracelet with blue oval stones, featuring a key and a round engraved charm.
A Moonstone and Gold Charm Bracelet circa 1949 that Lee gave to Jackie for her 20th birthday; estimated for $1,000-$1,500. Courtesy of Christie's

Framed artwork of a giraffe walking in a sepia-toned landscape with handwritten text at the bottom.
Peter Beard, Running Giraffe, 1960. Courtesy of Christie's

Grid of six watercolor flowers, each with unique colors and leaves, framed with a green border.
Caroline Lee Radziwill’s Six Floral Studies; estimated for $5,000-$8,000. Courtesy of Christie's

People riding a decorated elephant in a historic setting, wearing traditional attire; black and white photograph.
Visit of Mrs. John F. Kennedy to India (March 1962) photo album, which includes this photo of Jackie and Lee enjoying an elephant ride; album estimated for $40,000-$60,000. Courtesy of Christie's

Set of vintage porcelain dinnerware with floral and gold patterns, featuring plates, bowls, and serving dishes.
John Ridgway and Co. Imperial Stone China Two Porcelain Part Dinner Services from the second quarter of the 19th century, Lee’s wedding china for her marriage to Michael Canfield in 1953. Courtesy of Christie's

Tufted pink striped vintage chair with wooden legs on small wheels.
A Napoleon III Button Tufted Slipper Chair circa 1860 upholstered in pink and white Rubelli fabric; estimated for $600-$800. Courtesy of Christie's

Egyptian revival style bench with black frame, gold accents, and cream cushion.
A Regency Ebonized and Parcel Gilt Window Bench circa 1805; estimated for $2,000-$3,000. Courtesy of Christie's

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2019 Late Fall Issue in the section “The Artful Life.” Subscribe to the magazine.