Andrew Jones Auctions – The Private Collection of Mitzi Gaynor
June 29 at 1PM
2221 S. Main St. Los Angeles, CA. 90007
info@andrewjonesauctions.com
213.748.8008
Fax: 213.748.8018

LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday, June 29, Andrew Jones Auctions will present an online auction featuring property from two different collections of Hollywood celebrities. At 10 am Pacific time will be property from the collection of film producer Dino De Laurentiis and his wife Martha, featuring Italian and European antiques, furnishings, fine art and decorative items.

Then, at 1 pm, 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. Gaynor continues to share her dazzling brand of showmanship today with audiences worldwide.

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 on the film Ragtime in 1980, Dino had already made a remarkable contribution to cinema, transforming the very way people view Italy and Italians.

After Dino’s passing in 2010, Martha De Laurentiis furthered their legacy, heading the De Laurentiis Company from its office on the Universal Pictures backlot and developing a broad slate of film, television and an opera. During their 30-year marriage, Dino and Martha de Laurentiis formed a collection that reflected their backgrounds and aesthetics.

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 Eighteenth Century ($2/3,000) and an English mahogany extension dining table ($2/4,000), to a pair of Italian fruitwood reliefs of seated lions from the second half of the Eighteenth Century ($1/2,000).

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. In total, Dino produced, presented, financed or distributed more than 600 films. His productions have 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), a talent agent and public relations executive for MCA, were married for 52 years and were 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. These items will be in the auction.

Highlights will include an Eighteenth Century portrait of an aristocratic lady attributed to Jean Marc Nattier ($8/12,000); an English portrait of Master Robin Vanecke in the manner of John Hoppner ($8/12,000); and an early American coin silver three-piece coffee service by R&W Wilson of Philadelphia, circa 1825 ($800-$1,200).

One can envision Mitzi standing next to her Bosendorfer ebonized 7-foot baby grand piano ($6/8,000) with her accompanist at the keys rehearsing for one of her countless stage shows or film roles. Also offered will be a Tiffany Studios patinated bronze scarab inkwell from the early Twentieth Century ($3/5,000).

Online bidding will be facilitated by AndrewJonesAuctions.com, Invaluable.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Absentee bids will also be accepted. Safe, physically distanced live previews will be conducted by appointment at the Andrew Jones Auctions gallery prior to the auction.

Plans may change in accordance with Los Angeles County Department of health Covid-19 restrictions. Contact the gallery for details. The gallery is at 2221 South Main Street. For information, 213-748-8008 or www.andrewjonesauctions.com.