Bonhams present a selection of items from the Estate of actor Larry Hagman, best known for portraying J.R. Ewing on the classic soap opera Dallas, in its May 5 Entertainment Memorabilia auction and May 12 Period Art and Design auction, both to be held in Los Angeles.
Items on offer from Dallas include a complete set of Hagman’s scripts from season 7 of the show (est. $600-800); a portrait of him by Oenone Acheson, featured in season 13 (est. $1,500-2,000); a group of photographs of him with his Dallas costars Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy (est. $300-500); a pair of Hagman’s Dallas cast jackets (est. $300-500); and a group of awards Hagman received for his role on the show (est. $500-700).
The May 5 auction will also feature a large collection of custom leatherwork by Edward Bohlin, leathermaker to the stars, including a saddlebag (est. $1,000-1,500), Hagman’s Dallas script binder (est. $600-800), his briefcase (est. $600-800) and his director’s chair (est. $2,500-3,500), plus a custom Bohlin “J.R.” belt buckle, made of silver and 10kt gold and decorated with rubies (est. $3,000-5,000), recently featured on the 2013 season finale of TNT’s Dallas.
The Estate also includes Stetson hats, a Southfork Ranch belt buckle, a cartridge belt with holsters, hunting clothing and accessories, photographs, posters and other memorabilia of varying estimates. Additionally, it features memorabilia relating to Hagman’s mother, Broadway legend Mary Martin, including a book inscribed to her by Truman Capote (est. $400-600), a sterling silver picture frame gifted to her by Carol Channing (est. $300-500) and a sterling silver salver gifted to her by Fieldcrest, for whom Martin served as a spokesperson (est. $800-1,200).
Complementing the Hagman memorabilia is a selection of furniture, decorative accessories and art to be offered in Bonhams May 12 Period Art and Design auction. Hagman was known for his eclectic personal taste, and the selection includes both traditional European antiques, such as a pair of Louis XV style paint decorated wood fauteuils (est. $700-900) and a George III yew wood secretary bookcase (est. $1,000-1,500), as well as more unexpected items, such as a group of antique fireman’s helmets (est. $800-1,200), a brass telescope with stand (est. $500-700) and a Moorish style brass brazier (est. $400-600).
Bonhams upcoming auctions are a fantastic opportunity for Hagman’s fans to take home a piece of the star himself. As Preston Hagman, the actor’s son, said of his father, “He was quite a character, on television and at home, always having a larger-than-life presence. My dad had an absolute and unrelenting passion for everything he did. His personal motto was ‘Don’t worry. Be happy. Feel good.'”
The illustrated auction catalog for this sale will be available online for review and purchase at bonhams.com in the weeks preceding the sale.