AuctionPublicity.com - Christies is honored to present an extraordinary collection of property from the Estate of Robin Roberts on December 18, 2007. Mr. Roberts was the founder of Clarence House, the world-renowned textile firm. His contemporary Westchester estate, Twin Ponds, with its extravagant gardens and carefully curated collection of fine art and furniture was an homage to his keen sense of Twentieth Century style. Christies will offer more than 200 pieces from the Milton Klein designed home as well as items from Mr. Roberts Manhattan apartment, including fine examples of Asian works of art, 20th Century contemporary, decorative and fine arts and Impressionist prints and paintings. This collection also features exquisite furniture, pre-Colombian art, silver, fine carpets, porcelain, glass and ceramics. To be offered across multiple sales into Spring 2008, the entire Robin Roberts Estate is estimated to realize between $2.0 - $3.5 million.

Robin Roberts founded Clarence House in 1961 at a time when the era of American home design was beginning to come of age. Mr. Roberts set a standard for Clarence House and was quickly sought out by and partnered with the premiere European textile firms not only for his uncompromising commitment to design integrity but also for his accuracy regarding the trends of the growing textile marketplace. Through the years, the Clarence House brand has supplied the fabrics for pre-eminent museums and important historic homes and businesses and has been consistently featured in every important design and architectural magazine. From Buckingham Palace to the White House, one can find Clarence House fabrics. During the later half of the 20th Century, Robin Roberts was heralded as one of the influences behind the scenes, his work prominent in the homes of style arbiters and even gracing designs from some of the worlds couture fashion houses.

Works of Art
The auction at Christies will offer a wide variety of paintings, sculptures and other works of art by such noted artists as Laura Knight, Lynn Chadwick, Fernando Botero, Louise Nevelson, Ernest Trova, Charles Sargeant Jagger, Eugene Spiro, Raoul Dufy, Pavel Tchelitchew and Alfred Janniot. Among the works to be offered are a Charles Sargent Jagger patinated bronze relief, Scandal, which is a rare remnant of the Mulberry House (estimate: $150,000-200,000); a painting by Raoul Dufy Palmier et terrasse a L’estasque (estimate: $70,000-$90,000) and a large gilt plaster sculpture by Alfred Janniot (estimate: $30,000-40,000).

Asian Works of Art
The sale will include a lovely collection of Asian works, including a pair of Ming style cabinets (estimate: $8,000-12,000); a cast bronze head of the Ming dynasty period (estimate: $2,000-4,000); a pair of Chinese stools (estimate: $800-1,200) and a group of 15 Japanese Oribe bowls, each mostly estimated under $1,000.

Porcelain, Furniture, and Decorative Objects
The Robin Roberts Collection also includes such 20th century tastemakers as Armand Albert Rateau, Jean Dunand, ierre Chareau, Emile Ruhlmann, Alberto Giacometti, Sue & Mare, Edouard- Marcel Sandoz and Edgar William Brandt, iovanni Michelucci, Pablo Picasso, Donald Desky and Jean Puiforcat. The sale will highlight a Rateau chair (estimate: $600,000-800,000); a floor lamp by Chareau (estimate: $100,000-150,000); Engraved Face plate by Pablo Picasso (estimate: $3,000- 4,000); a Cannes Pattern silver flatware service by Puiforcat (estimate: $20,000-30,000) and a colorful silvered and gilt bronze fish form jardinire on an iron stand by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz and Edgar Brandt (estimate: $60,000-$80,000).

Auction: Property from the Estate of Robin Roberts December 18
Viewing: Christies Galleries at Rockefeller Center December 14 - 17

About Christies
Christie’s is the world’s leading art business with global auction sales in 2006 that totaled £2.51 billion / $4.67 billion. Worldwide sales for the first half of 2007 totaled £1.63 billion / $3.25 billion, an increase of 32% by £ and 45% by $ from the same period last year and highest half year sales ever in art market history. Christies is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service, and international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christies offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jeweler, photographs, collectibles, wine, cars and more. Prices range from $200 o over $80 million. Christies has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai and Hong Kong. Most recently, Christies has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging markets such as China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Dubai, Mumbai and Russia. Christie’s also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christies LIVETM, its unique, real-time online bidding service.

Posted: 12|6|07 at 9:41 am. Filed under: Press Release.