Christie’s evening auction of The Daphne Guinness Collection; Sold to Benefit the Isabella Blow Foundation realized a total of £476,800 / $744,285 / €595,523 – far-exceeding the pre-sale estimate of £100,000. The auction offered 102 lots, including a selection of dresses, coats, skirts, tops and jackets belonging to Daphne Guinness, as well as selected photographs and her signature shoes. Please see separate document for the full top ten; click here to view the full results list online.
Lot 102 © Mario Testino DAPHNE GUINNESS MARIO TESTINO (B. 1954), FOR BRITISH VOGUE, MARCH 2008 Chromogenic print Accompanied by signed letter of authenticity Image/sheet 99 3/5 x 72 5/6in. (253 x 185cm.), numbered ½ Estimate: £20,000 – 30,000 SOLD: £133,250/ $208,003/ €166,429 NEW WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER AT AUCTION
The top lot of the sale was Daphne Guinness, a photograph taken by Mario Testino for British Vogue, March 2008 which realized £133,250 / $208,003 / €166,429, setting a new world record price for the photographer at auction.* The top dress of the sale was an ivory silk tulle empire line gown, The Girl Who Lived In The Tree by Alexander McQueen, Autumn/Winter 2008-9, sold with Daphne Guinness, a photograph by Mat Collishaw (b. 1966), for Harper’s Bazaar UK, May 2012, which set a world record price for the designer at auction, selling for £85,250 / $133,075 / €106,477.** Two dresses (lots 41 and 99) offered in The Daphne Guinness Collection surpassed the previous world record price for McQueen at auction.
The auction’s purpose was to launch and raise funds for The Isabella Blow Foundation, set up by Daphne in memory of her friend to continue the work of Issie, supporting new and emerging talent in the sphere where art and fashion meet – a realm championed by Daphne. With the help of Christie’s specialists, Daphne selected pieces to be auctioned from her personal wardrobe which embody her personal style, most of which were acquired by Daphne directly from the designers themselves. Exceptional designs by the likes of McQueen, Chanel, Balenciaga, Gareth Pugh, Christopher Kane, Lanvin, Lacroix, Prada, Gucci, Alaia and others featured in the sale.
