Collectors eagerly vied for pieces evocative of mrs. The soul of discretion, bunny mellon real name rachel probably would have bristled at the current auction of her jewels, interiors and artwork, held at sothebys. You can read an interesting article about oak springs new owners here. Rachel lambert mellon died at the remarkable age of 103 earlier this year, and her upperville, va. Bunny mellon goodreads meet your next favorite book. The american horticulturist and philanthropist once quipped, nothing should be noticed. All of these gardens are featured in the gardens of bunny mellon, illustrated with mellons own garden plans, sketches, and watercolors, as well as with archival photographs and specially commissioned photographs of oak spring, the mellon estate in upperville.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. She designed and planted a number of significant gardens, including the white house rose garden, and assembled one of the largest collections of rare horticultural books. With the cooperation of bunny mellon s family, author meryl gordon received access to thousands of pages of her letters, diaries and appointment calendars and has interviewed more than 175 people to capture the spirit of this talented american original. A rapturous biography of heiress and celebrated landscape gardener rachel bunny mellon 19102014.
Sothebys will host an auction of the late, private heiresss most beautiful belongings next month, including custom pieces by duke fulco di verdura. For admirers of the inimitable style of bunny mellon, and the innate design flair that took herwithout formal trainingto the white house and versailles, the upcoming book. Mellons celebrated collection of rare books, manuscripts, works of art and artifacts relating to horticulture, landscape design and. I knew that bunny mellon had designed the white house rose garden but i didnt know how close she was to jackie and president kennedy. Jul 30, 2010 how green was my alleethe greenhouse in the garden of bunny mellons oak spring estate, in upperville, virginia, which features trompe loeil murals by fernand renard. The excitement begins on the 10th with the masterworks auction of a curated selection of fine art, including her famous rothkos. The life of an american style legend hardcover september 26, 2017. Oct 20, 2014 you have no doubt by now read about the upcoming sothebys bunny mellon auction. Bunny mellons multimillion dollar art is up for auction.
He was coheir to one of americas greatest business fortunes, derived from the mellon bank created by his grandfather thomas mellon. The mrs paul bunny mellon exhibition at sothebys youtube. Jul 30, 2010 like her late billionaire husband, paul, rachel bunny lambert mellon has always put a premium on privacy, even as some of the worlds most public peopleincluding john and jacqueline. The life of an american style legend and the gardens of bunny mellon. The life of an american style legend, i found the genesis of my mothers coat, and, as i read the book, i began to think differently about my mother. The incredible jewelry, furniture, and art available. All 43 works from bunny mellons collection sell at sothebys.
Schlumbergers most devoted client was the very private bunny mellon, otherwise known as rachel lambert mellon. Rust was referring to the thousands of objects set to go on the auction block beginning thursday evening in. For more on bunny mellon s storied life, i recommend bunny mellon. Bunny mellons breathtaking private collection on sale at sothebys.
See more ideas about bunny mellon, bunny and interior. Mellon was the second wife of philanthropist and horse. Meryl gordons latest biography reveals the inner world of an american aristocrat with a green thumb, elite rolodex and dramatic personal life. Mellon s interiors, driving the auction result to more. An inspiring new book for the gardener in your life katie considers. The interiors auction offering fine art, furniture, porcelain, silver, glassware, decoration and more from mrs. Dec 08, 2016 bunny mellon, the late american heiress and art collector, worked to create breathtaking gardens and houses with interiors of soulful simplicity.
Bunny mellon had peerless taste and a penchant for scandal. In november, sothebys will auction a jawdropping selection of famous artworks, rare porcelains, and fine furnishings once owned by bunny mellon. Based on extensive interviews with rachel bunny mellon, linda explores the long storied life of one of the nations premiere garden designers. See more ideas about bunny mellon, bunny, estate garden. But for those who knew her, or of her, it was a rare treat. Most of the articles surround the sale of bunny mellons estate at sothebys. Ive just finished the chapters that delve into this friendship in the book bunny mellon.
Bunny mellons belongings bring mice to sothebys page six. While it has long been common knowledge in jewelry circles, she had a substantial collection of schlumbergers work, exactly what or how many pieces she owned, has had the air of an urban jewelry myth. Auctions often tell a story of a life well lived, one spent in beautiful rooms surrounded by beautiful things. See more ideas about bunny mellon, bunny and new york townhouse. Bunny mellons jewelry collection at sothebys bunny mellon. The much anticipated event will be spread over the course of several dates next month filling almost all of the galleries. Lambert foundation, a charitable entity established by mrs.
The true story bunny mellon s extraordinary collections and the legendary auction of the decade author meryl gordon chronicles the life of the society icon in her new book bunny mellon. Bunny mellon collection and auction bunny mellon biography. She had gardeners rake leaves and return the prettiest to the ground. Author linda holdens text is based on extensive interviews with mellon before. Rachel bunny mellons collection will be up for grabs at sothebys beginning november 10 with her masterworks, and continuing november 20 to 23, with over 2,000 items of furniture, silver, linens, and decorations, mostly from her storied estate, oak spring farm, in upperville, virginia.
Auction catalogues for this sale are difficult to find, but here is a set currently being offered via ebay. Bunny mellon, who died in 2014 at age 103, was pressshy during her lifetime. Collectors competed feverishly across the threeday, fivesession sale of mrs. Oct 30, 2014 the design world is in a tizzy right now. Listed to the left is a selection of categories that we carry.
Mellon s celebrated collection of rare books, manuscripts, works of art and artifacts relating to horticulture, landscape design and. Auction of new york socialite bunny mellons estate nets. Bunny died earlier that year at age 103, and her son, stacy b. Oct 07, 2017 the true story bunny mellons extraordinary collections and the legendary auction of the decade author meryl gordon chronicles the life of the society icon in her new book bunny mellon.
Designer picks from the sothebys bunny mellon auction. Rachel lambert bunny mellon, who died at age 103 on march 17 of this year, was renowned as a style icon, an influential garden designer she helped plan the white house rose garden for her. Throughout her long and storied life, rachel bunny mellon s greatest passion was garden design. How heiress bunny mellon got a thrill funding naughty candidate john edwards while he hid pregnant mistress this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The mysterious life and scandalous death of heiress huguette clark, 2014, etc. The largest distributor of art, antique and collectible post auction catalogs in the world. After marrying philanthropist paul mellon heir to the mellon bank fortune in 1948, bunny collected more than,000 gardening books, including rare volumes such as president george washingtons personal garden book. The book s juiciest scandal arrives near the end, when, at the age of ninetyfive, mellon took a shine to a north carolina senator named john edwards. The collection of rachel lambert mellon, better known as bunny, was the source of a wildly successful series of auctions at sothebys that wrapped up sunday night, bringing in. Bunny mellon s breathtaking private collection on sale at sothebys in november, sothebys will auction a jawdropping selection of famous artworks, rare porcelains, and fine furnishings once. Apr 15, 2019 for more on bunny mellons storied life, i recommend bunny mellon. Author meryl gordon goes inside the auction of the decade in her new book bunny mellon. Nov 07, 2014 bunny mellons gardeninspired jewelry designed by verdura. Results the interiors auction offering fine art, furniture, porcelain, silver, glassware, decoration and more from mrs.
The dark history behind the auction of bunny mellons. The sale of the estate of bunny mellon has been called the auction of the decade. A biography of bunny mellon, the style icon and american aristocrat who designed the white house rose garden for her friend jfk and served as a living witness to 20th century american history, operating in the highlevel arenas of politics, diplomacy, art and fashion. The listerine heiress and horticulturist passed away in march aged 103 after a 15. She and her husband, paul mellon, one of the wealthiest men in america, maintained homes in new york, cape cod, nantucket, antigua, and upperville, virginia, and she designed the gardens at all of them. He recommends talking to the auction house about what the catalog will. Paul mellon june 11, 1907 february 1, 1999 was an american philanthropist and an ownerbreeder of thoroughbred racehorses.
Bunny mellons schlumberger goes on display the adventurine. In 2014, sothebys offered up more than 2,000 of her possessions over the course of three curated events, raising. The gardens and interiors of rachel lambert bunny mellon. Nov 14, 2014 bunny mellon was known to be a collector of everything beautifulfrom fine art to rare horticulture booksbut her jewelry collection is one that stands the test of time.
Rachel lambert mellon august 9, 1910 march 17, 2014, often known as bunny mellon, was an american horticulturalist, gardener, philanthropist, and art collector. New york property from the estate of noted horticulturist, philanthropist and heir to the listerine fortune rachel bunny mellon is going on the auction block this fall. Nov 08, 2017 the sale of the estate of bunny mellon has been called the auction of the decade. He is one of only five people ever designated an exemplar of racing by the national museum of racing and hall of fame. The interiors auction will offer fine art, furniture, porcelain, silver, glassware, decoration and more from mrs. Mellons interiors, driving the auction result to more than double its. The foundation supports the oak spring garden library, mrs. You have no doubt by now read about the upcoming sothebys bunny mellon auction. Tour bunny mellons houses and gardens architectural digest. The farm was the fabulously wealthy mellon s greatest treasure a private hideaway where.
Library, which houses a vast collection of rare books on horticulture. Bunny mellons breathtaking private collection on sale at. Bunny mellon s expansive oak springs farm just hit the market, listed by washington fine properties. All of these gardens are featured in the gardens of bunny mellon, illustrated with mellon s own garden plans, sketches, and watercolors, as well as with archival photographs and specially commissioned photographs of oak spring, the mellon estate in upperville. Oct 06, 2017 but mellon also made headlines late in life. Get lost in mellon s story and captivating photography. Ive just finished the chapters that delve into this friendship in the book bunny. The life of an american style legend, i found the genesis of my mothers coat, and, as i read the book, i. The story arc of biographies hews naturally to the contours of life, with a subjects golden years generally making for sedate reading. Inside bunny mellon s oak spring farm estate take a look inside the private estate and see some of the items up for bid at sothebys three separate auctions of the mellon. How heiress bunny mellon got a thrill funding john edwards. When the sothebys vice chairman arrived at bunny mellons. Vanity fair contributor gordon the phantom of fifth avenue. Bunny mellons art collection up for auction at sothebys.