The late Joan Rivers was known for her extravagant and outward personality, and her longtime Upper East Side triplex was merely an extension of that. Once described by the comedian as "Louis XIV meets Fred and Ginger," the opulent home featured over-the-top touches like gilded antique boisserie paneling and columns, and the things she filled her penthouse with were equally impressive. The apartment sold at its full ask of $28 million in July, and now Rivers's personal effects are coming up to auction at Christie's, where they'll hit the block on June 22.
Christie's has issued a catalog detailing the decorative arts, fine French furniture and opulent collections of items from Fabergé, Harry Winston, Tiffany's and the like that will come to auction. The catalog also includes more excessive items like the silk pagoda dog bed and engraved Tiffany's silver water bowl of Rivers's pooches.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit God’s Love We Deliver and Guide Dogs For The Blind. The lots will be on display at Christie's from Friday June 17 through Thursday June 21, but here's a first peek at a few of the items from Rivers personal collection that will be seeking new ownership.
↑ A 20th-century group of silver and silver plate dressing table accessories
The lot is comprised of a Canadian silver hand mirror engraved with an R; a silver plate pot-pourri box with pineapple handle; a small silver plate sweetmeat basket; a small shaped silver plate dish with a "humorous sign" in a gilt-wood frame. Now accepting guesses on what Christie's considers a "humorous sign."
$300-$500
↑ Twelve porcelain turquiose-ground monogrammed desert plates
The plates were a gift from actor Vincent Price and wife Coral. Fun fact: Price is godfather to Rivers's daughter, Melissa.
$800 - $1,200
↑ A white-painted and parcel-gilt chair in the Louis XVI style dating to circa 1780
$1,500 - $2,000
↑ A French giltwood mirror in the regence style from the 20th century
$5,000 - $8,000
↑ An Italian giltwood and green-painted console table dating to the 20th century
$1,000 - $1,500
↑ An oil painting titled Dans l'atelier by artist Edouard Vuillard circa 1915
$120,000 - $180,000
↑ A Chinese porcelain vase, mounted as a lamp, and two Buddhistic lion porcelain models dating to the late 19th and early 20th century
$800 - $1,200
↑ Two French boxes adorned in gilt and mother of pearl from the second half of the 19th century
$1,500 - $2,000
And now, one more look at Rivers's palatial triplex, as she kept it.
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