A sheet of pencil sketches completed on White House stationary and signed ‘Ronald Reagan’ (est. $2500-3500). Among the series of unconnected figures on the page are a sailor, a baby, a cowboy and a football player done in a confident – if relatively unpracticed – and cartoonish style.
The catalogue also includes jewellery and accessories worn or used by Mrs Reagan (1921-2016). The majority of the leading lots feature diamonds and include an American flag ring by Bulgari made with diamonds, sapphires and rubies (est. $5000-8000), a diamond-trimmed evening bag (est. $10,000-15,000) and a pair of diamond and gold ear clips by van Cleef and Arpels in the shape of lion-head doorknockers (est. $15,000-20,000).
An American dream
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) worked as a sports commentator, motivational speaker and a Hollywood star before entering politics and the collection reflects the influences of his past lives and patriotism during his time in the White House (1981-1989).
Furniture, paintings, decorative art, including a selection of furniture designed by Billy Haines in the ‘Hollywood Regency’ style and monogrammed porcelain with the presidential seal will appear at the Christie’s sale.
Also included will be collectables commemorating the Republican’s time in office.
A 1984 needlepoint cushion, reading ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’ was given to the president by Hollywood producer Ray Stark (est. $1000-1500) shortly before his second term in office commenced.
A chunk of the Berlin wall is also available at one of the higher estimates of $10,000-20,000. Larger fragments of the Wall regularly bring six figures at auction, but this piece is likely to attract attention for its provenance, related to one of Reagan’s most significant foreign policy achievements.
The auction is to be held at Christie’s New York on September 21 and 22 and coincides with the auction house’s Americana sales. Other items, including a large Italian ceramic Thanksgiving platter with turkey-shaped casters, are to be sold on the online sale, on September 19-27.
