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Elvis-themed phone and hen tureens among last Mitford sister's belongings to be sold Elvis-themed phone and hen tureens among last Mitford sister's belongings to be sold
(about 2 hours later)
An Elvis-themed phone, a gift from Madonna and an inscribed early copy of Brideshead Revisited are among hundreds of items to go on sale in the personal collection of Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire – the youngest and last surviving of the aristocratic Mitford sisters.An Elvis-themed phone, a gift from Madonna and an inscribed early copy of Brideshead Revisited are among hundreds of items to go on sale in the personal collection of Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire – the youngest and last surviving of the aristocratic Mitford sisters.
Sotheby’s announced details of a sale which will reflect the glamour of her remarkable life and the variety of her eclectic tastes – everything from furniture to art, jewellery and Elvis Presley ephemera. Sotheby’s announced details of a sale that will reflect the glamour of her remarkable life and the variety of her eclectic tastes – everything from furniture to art, jewellery and Elvis Presley ephemera.
As wife of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, whom she married in 1941, Deborah became chatelaine of Chatsworth House, one of the grandest estates in England.As wife of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, whom she married in 1941, Deborah became chatelaine of Chatsworth House, one of the grandest estates in England.
While her older sisters pursued interests in literature (Nancy), communism (Decca), and fascism (Diana and Unity), Deborah – Debo to friends and family – was more in love with hens and horses. But she was also an energetic patron of the arts, author and countrywoman whose wide circle of friends included royalty, John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Lucian Freud, Evelyn Waugh and Alan Bennett.While her older sisters pursued interests in literature (Nancy), communism (Decca), and fascism (Diana and Unity), Deborah – Debo to friends and family – was more in love with hens and horses. But she was also an energetic patron of the arts, author and countrywoman whose wide circle of friends included royalty, John F Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Lucian Freud, Evelyn Waugh and Alan Bennett.
In a statement her family said: “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.
Related: The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire obituaryRelated: The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire obituary
Her family said in a statement: “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.”“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.”
The family said the dowager would be happy to know some of her possessions would go to new homes where they would be cherished and enjoyed. The family said the dowager would be happy to know that some of her possessions would go to new homes where they would be cherished and enjoyed.
Personal correspondence, including letters to and about her sisters, have been left to the Chatsworth House Trust along with her collection of couture clothing. The plan is to make these archives accessible to the public in due course.Personal correspondence, including letters to and about her sisters, have been left to the Chatsworth House Trust along with her collection of couture clothing. The plan is to make these archives accessible to the public in due course.
There will be more than 450 lots, with estimates ranging from as little as £10 to as much as £40,000. The combined estimate is £500,000-700,000. There will be more than 450 lots, with estimates ranging from as little as £10 to as much as £40,000. The combined estimate is £500,000-£700,000.
The items include a true first edition of Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, one of 50 pre-publication copies which were distributed to an inner circle inviting revisions and suggestions. It is inscribed: “Debo & Andrew/ with love from/ Evelyn/ A very old fashioned story.” The items include a true first edition of Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, one of 50 pre-publication copies distributed to an inner circle inviting revisions and suggestions. It is inscribed: “Debo & Andrew/ with love from/ Evelyn/ A very old fashioned story.”
Writing years later she reflected: “In spite of his uncertain ways, Evelyn remained a friend and a generous one.”Writing years later she reflected: “In spite of his uncertain ways, Evelyn remained a friend and a generous one.”
Two portraits by Jacob Epstein, of his son Jackie aged three, which hung in her bedroom, are being sold with an estimate of £2,500-4,000. She once called them “powerful and memorable”, although Lucian Freud, for a time Epstein’s son-in-law, used one as a coal shovel in his bed-studio. Two portraits by Jacob Epstein, of his son Jackie aged three, which hung in her bedroom, are being sold with an estimate of £2,500-£4,000. She once called them “powerful and memorable”, although Lucian Freud, for a time Epstein’s son-in-law, used one as a coal shovel in his bed-studio.
The dowager’s fondness for hens will be reflected in the sale with such items as hen tureens, bespoke travelling poultry boxes and a chick-shaped powder compact going under the hammer.The dowager’s fondness for hens will be reflected in the sale with such items as hen tureens, bespoke travelling poultry boxes and a chick-shaped powder compact going under the hammer.
Another passion was Elvis, and one lot is her collection of Presley ephemera (estimate £500-1,000), including the novelty telephone she had installed in the blue drawing room of Chatsworth. Another passion was Elvis, and one lot is her collection of Presley ephemera (estimate £500-£1,000), including the novelty telephone she had installed in the blue drawing room of Chatsworth.
Among the many visitors to the stately home was Madonna, who came for tea in 2007 and gave the dowager a gift of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. It is inscribed: “For the Duchess, I hope this book inspires you as much as it inspired me! Thanks for your hospitality. All the best, Madonna.” That is being sold with something of bargain basement estimate of £70-90. Among the many visitors to the stately home was Madonna, who came for tea in 2007 and gave the dowager a gift of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. It is inscribed: “For the Duchess, I hope this book inspires you as much as it inspired me! Thanks for your hospitality. All the best, Madonna.” That is being sold with something of bargain basement estimate of £70-£90.
The duchess died in 2014 at the age of 94 after spending the last 10 years of her life at the Old Vicarage, an 18th-century house on the vast Chatsworth estate.The duchess died in 2014 at the age of 94 after spending the last 10 years of her life at the Old Vicarage, an 18th-century house on the vast Chatsworth estate.
The auctioneer and chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, Henry Wyndham, said: “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’.The auctioneer and chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, Henry Wyndham, said: “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.“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.” “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.”
The sale will take place on 2 March in London.The sale will take place on 2 March in London.