Late U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein’s personal collection was auctioned off by Bonhams earlier this week in Los Angeles, breaking records for the auction house. Drawing the highest number of registrations for a U.S. Bonhams sale, the auction lasted nearly 12 hours, fetching $1.85 million in sales and doubling the estimate. It also attracted a significant number of new buyers, who made up 40% of the hammer price.
The longest-serving female senator in history, Feinstein was a fixture on the social scene and was highly revered for both her accomplishments and impeccable taste in everything from art to accessories. It’s no wonder that so many showed up for a chance to own a piece of her legacy.
Some familiar with Feinstein expressed concern that such a public display of her belongings is a far cry from what she might have wanted. Wealthy in her own right, Feinstein married billionaire Richard Blum, compounding her wealth further. Despite her affluence, Feinstein led a demure and restrained lifestyle. Willie Brown, a former mayor of San Francisco and longtime friend of Feinstein, told the The New York Times, “I think Dianne would have found it unusual to have her items auctioned off to strangers.”
Trust Governed Sale
Despite being embroiled in multiple lawsuits before and after her passing, including a dispute with the estate trustees, the sale wasn’t a result of a family battle. According to the The New York Times, court records reveal that the senator’s family had little say in the estate’s liquidation, which is being administered in accordance with Feinstein and her husband’s complex trust.
Friends and family of Feinstein noted that the sale “makes more sense than it might seem to outsiders” given how much personal effects she had amassed during her tenure in office and inside her multiple mansions. Bonhams hand-picked many of the items that were part of the auction from Feinstein’s main residence in San Francisco, as well as from her homes in Washington, D.C. and Stinson Beach, Calif.
Items Included
In addition to furniture and home design objects, the sale featured American art, memorabilia from her political career (such as a note from former President Jimmy Carter and a piece of the Berlin Wall) and an extensive jewelry collection (a platinum and diamond ring selling for $108,450 was a highlight).
“This turnout is a testament to the profound influence Sen. Feinstein had in her home state of California. We’re proud to have hosted this auction to celebrate the life and career of a remarkable stateswoman and give a unique opportunity for collectors and admirers to own a piece of Sen. Feinstein’s enduring legacy,” said Victoria R. Gray, Bonhams deputy chairman, North America.
According to a press release from Bonhams, further works of art from Feinstein and her late husband’s Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art collection will be onsale online from Oct. 14-24.
