De Laurentiis and Mitzi Gaynor collections co-star at Andrew Jones, June 29
Left, Portrait of an aristocratic lady attributed to Jean Marc Nattier, from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $8,000-$12,000; Right, pair of Italian Baroque paint-decorated wall lights from the De Laurentiis collection, est. $2,000-$3,000
LOS ANGELES – On Wednesday, June 29, Andrew Jones Auctions will present, online, property from two different collections of Hollywood legends. At 10 am Pacific time, the auction house will offer property from the collection of film producer Dino De Laurentiis and his wife Martha, which ranges from Italian and European antiques and furnishings to fine art and decorative items. At 1 pm Pacific time, the private collection of the Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actress, comedienne and musical performer Mitzi Gaynor will come up for bid, featuring fine art, antiques, books, silver, porcelain and glass, decorative arts and Louis Vuitton luggage. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Dino De Laurentiis (1919-2010) and his wife Martha (1954-2021) were partners in filmmaking as well as marriage. The couple produced numerous films together and built three studios on different continents. When they met during the filming of Ragtime in 1980, Dino had already made a remarkable contribution to cinema, transforming the way people view Italy and Italians.
Pair of Italian Baroque paint-decorated wall lights from the De Laurentiis collection, est. $2,000-$3,000
His wife, the American-born Martha Schumacher, joined the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation in 1980 and produced her first film with Dino, an adaptation of Stephen King’s book Firestarter. Their partnership led to other films including The Bounty, Year of the Dragon, Manhunter, Blue Velvet, Bound, Crimes of the Heart, the psychological thriller Hannibal and Red Dragon.
During their 30-year marriage, Dino De Laurentiis (1919-2010) and Martha de Laurentiis (1954-2021) formed a collection that reflected their backgrounds and aesthetics.
After Dino’s passing in 2010, Martha De Laurentiis furthered their legacy, heading the De Laurentiis Company from its long-standing office on the Universal Pictures backlot. During their 30-year marriage, Dino and Martha de Laurentiis formed a collection that reflected their backgrounds and aesthetics.
English mahogany extension dining table from the De Laurentiis collection, est. $2,000-$4,000
European in style but peppered with Americana, their pieces range from a pair of Italian Baroque paint-decorated wall lights from the first half of the 18th century, estimated at $2,000-$3,000; to an English mahogany extension dining table, estimated at $2,000-$4,000; to a pair of Italian fruitwood reliefs of seated lions from the second half of the 18th century, estimated at $1,000-$2,000.
Corrado Cagli, ‘Abstract flora,’ from the De Laurentiis collection, est. $1,000-$2,000
Also offered will be a number of works by Italian artists Corrado Cagli and Mirko Basaldella, with whom Dino worked to create scene designs for his films. A notable Cagli piece in the lineup is the 1971 oil-on-canvas Abstract flora, which is estimated at $1,000-$2,000. In total, Dino produced, presented, financed or distributed more than 600 films. His productions earned four Academy Awards, 30 Academy Award nominations and approximately 100 different awards worldwide.
Mitzi Gaynor (b. 1931-) and her late husband, Jack Bean (1922-2006, not pictured), built a personal collection that was admired by all who visited them.
Mitzi Gaynor (b. 1931-) and her late husband, Jack Bean (1922-2006), a talent agent and public relations executive for MCA, were married for 52 years and were absolutely inseparable. They loved to travel, decorate and entertain. Throughout their decades together they built a personal collection that was admired by all who visited them.
Portrait of an aristocratic lady attributed to Jean Marc Nattier, from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $8,000-$12,000
Highlights will include an 18th-century portrait of an aristocratic lady, attributed to Jean Marc Nattier and estimated at $8,000-$12,000; an English portrait of Master Robin Vanecke painted in the manner of John Hoppner, estimated at $8,000-$12,000; and a circa-1825 coin silver three-piece coffee service by R & W Wilson of Philadelphia, estimated at $800-$1,200.
Portrait of Master Robin Vanecke in the manner of John Hoppner, from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $8,000-$12,000
It’s easy to envision Gaynor standing next to her Bosendorfer ebonized seven-foot baby grand piano with her accompanist at the keys, rehearsing for one of her countless stage shows or film roles. The exquisite musical instrument carries an estimate of $6,000-$8,000.
American coin silver three-piece coffee service by R & W Wilson, from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $800-$1,200
Also offered will be an early 20th-century Tiffany Studios patinated bronze scarab inkwell, estimated at $3,000-$5,000.
Bosendorfer ebonized seven-foot baby grand piano from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $6,000-$8,000
Mitzi Gaynor made her motion picture debut alongside Betty Grable in the movie My Blue Heaven and went on to dazzle audiences in some of the most revered musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including There’s No Business Like Show Business with Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe; Anything Goes with Bing Crosby and Donald O’Connor; Les Girls with Gene Kelly; and as Ensign Nellie Forbush in the film adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
Tiffany Studios patinated bronze three scarab inkwell from the Mitzi Gaynor collection, est. $3,000-$5,000
For more information about Andrew Jones Auctions and the sale of property from the collections of Hollywood legends Dino and Martha De Laurentiis and Mitzi Gaynor on Wednesday, June 29, please visit www.andrewjonesauctions.com.
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