Art & Culture

Mario Buatta’s Most Beloved Personal Treasures Come to Auction

The January 23 and 24 sale at Sotheby’s New York includes furniture, decorative objects, and fine art

January 6, 2020

Elegant living room with classic decor, floral patterns, numerous dog paintings, and a variety of decorative vases on display. — Mario Buatta’s Living Room, New York. Photo: Scott Frances OTTO, Courtesy of Sotheby's

Man sitting in a stylish, art-filled living room with colorful cushions and lamp, surrounded by books and a dog painting. — Buatta in a client’s living room in the ’70s. Courtesy of Rizzoli

Although Mario Buatta’s aptitude for mixing Colefax and Fowler’s large-scale prints may have earned him the moniker “Prince of Chintz,” it was the legendary designer’s deep knowledge of antiques that made each of the homes he created true masterpieces. With almost 60 years of decorating to his credit when he passed away in October 2018, Buatta was consumed by a passion for collecting that kept him awake around the clock, scouring auction catalogues for his next purchase—whether for a client or himself.

Befittingly, his personal treasures from his homes on New York’s Upper East Side (above) and in Connecticut will hit the block at Sotheby’s New York on January 23 and 24 for its Americana Week sales. The lots include English and Continental furniture, Dutch delft, English and Chinese porcelain, and fine art, all speaking to the designer’s unwavering eye.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2019 Winter issue in the section The Artful Life. Subscribe to the magazine.