The Facts
Bonhams will offer a large selection of costume and set designs by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) in its Collections Sale, which runs online from May 20 to June 3, 2025, on bonhams.com. The sale includes the Roy Astley Collection of Theatrical Designs and selected items from the estate of Sir Brian Williamson. Among the highlights are Beaton's costume designs for Katharine Hepburn in 'Coco' (estimated at £1,200-1,800) and sketches for 'My Fair Lady'. Other lots include a George V silver-mounted mazer bowl by Omar Ramsden (£15,000-25,000), Anne Redpath's 'Hillside Village, Corsica' (£12,000-18,000), and Beaton's 'Portrait of Picasso' (£8,000-12,000). The sale also features Part II of Geoffrey Sawyer's collection of Beaton photographs, including portraits of the Royal Family and stars of stage and screen.
The Signal
The sale underscores Beaton's dual legacy as a celebrated photographer and a prolific theatrical designer, a facet often overshadowed by his iconic images of royalty and society. The upcoming 'Cecil Beaton's Garden Party' exhibition at The Garden Museum, which will feature costumes and designs, further amplifies collector interest. For Beaton enthusiasts and collectors of theatrical ephemera, this sale offers a rare opportunity to acquire works from a curated private collection that has been exhibited in landmark shows, including the 1986 Cecil Beaton retrospective at Barbican Art Gallery.
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- Artists: Cecil Beaton, Oliver Messel, Anne Redpath, Charles Vincent Lamb, William Theed
- People: Cecil Beaton, Roy Astley, Charlie Thomas, Geoffrey Sawyer
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Museums: Barbican Art Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, The Garden Museum
- Locations: London
- Prices: £1,200-1,800, £15,000-25,000, £12,000-18,000, £8,000-12,000, £6,000-10,000, £2,000-3,000
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