Auction: Doyle New York: The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
12/09/2011 § 1 Comment
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in 1938.
December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000
Over the weekend, I dropped by Doyle New York on the Upper East Side to peruse the estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., due to be sold tomorrow morning, September 13, at 10am. Fairbanks, son of screen legend Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and his first wife Anna; and stepson to his father’s second wife — screen legend in her own right — Mary Pickford; was Hollywood royalty. Encouraged by his father and stepmother, Fairbanks, Jr. began acting at a young age in silent films, eventually working in “talkies” and on the stage, and became quite the leading man.
During the second World War, Fairbanks, Jr. served as a reserve officer in the US Navy, where he trained with the British Royal Navy through an officer exchange program headed by Lord Mountbatten, a friend of his father, Fairbanks, Sr. Fairbanks, Jr. returned to the states where he was instrumental in the creation of the Beach Jumper program, a special naval unit specializing in misinformation and deception. After the war, he returned to acting.
Fairbanks, Jr. was married three times — once to Joan Crawford! — and had three daughters. He was a rather acquisitive fellow who enjoyed the best of everything. This auction of his estate contains more than 400 lots of jewelry, memorabilia, clothing, furniture and artwork. I was most excited to see the clothing and personal effects and came away quite impressed…and also full of antique lust, but that’s to be expected.
Wearing the platinum, diamond and turquoise set pictured above.
Loved Fairbanks’ Rolodexes.
Decorated war hero, Hollywood star…fan of Lily Pulitzer resort wear?
Brook Club crest and lighter
Patek Philippe Gold Wristwatch
Grouped with below photo of Fairbanks wearing the watch, with Marlene Dietrich
Images via QC, LIFE and Doyle New York
Some of the lots are estimated to go as low as $100 – $200, like these ties pictured above. So if old Hollywood, fine menswear and classic personal accessories appeals to you, you may want to mosey over to Doyle New York tomorrow morning and see what’s what. Or perhaps place a bid from afar. Just don’t you bid on anything that I have my eye on…
The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Auctioned by Doyle New York
View the full catalog here
Quite Continental 
Oh man I wish I had seen this. I am pining for an LV trunk like that- I’m sure that went way out of my league with the provenance…this is one classy estate. I hope someone can say the same of my junk one day.