The private collection of Bing Crosby, including art, jewelry, and career memorabilia, was auctioned for nearly 6 million euros in New York.
How much did the auction dedicated to Bing Crosby’s collection achieve?
The sale dedicated to the collection of the American singer and actor Bing Crosby, born in 1903 and died in 1977, took place at the new Sotheby’s location at the Breuer Building in New York. The auction totaled nearly 6 million euros, equivalent to about 6.7 million dollars, slightly exceeding the expectations of the eve.
The auction included about 200 lots, among paintings, furnishings, jewelry, and stage props.
The overall result exceeded the pre-sale estimate of 6.3 million dollars, indicating strong interest from collectors in the private universe of the “White Christmas” star.
Moreover, about two-thirds of the lots were sold above the high end of the estimate range. This data confirms sustained demand for materials related to 20th-century cinema and music icons, in line with what has been observed in other recent thematic sales.
Which artworks were sold at the highest prices?
Among the standout lots was the painting “On the Moors” (1914) by Alfred James Munnings, an equestrian subject with hunters on horseback. The work was sold for 1.2 million dollars, equivalent to about 1 million euros, marking one of the highest prices of the entire session.
Alongside Munnings’ work, two pieces by Charles Marion Russell dedicated to the myth of the American West stood out, collectively sold for nearly 1 million dollars. However, the collection was not limited to American art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Another highlight was the painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir titled “Paysage d’après Corot” (1898). The work was auctioned for 317,500 dollars, equivalent to about 270,535 euros, placing it in an intermediate range compared to the top lots but confirming the presence of Impressionist signatures in the collection gathered by the American artist.
What role did jewelry and personal items play?
Alongside the paintings, a significant chapter of the sale concerned the collection of jewelry and items related to the private life of Bing Crosby’s family. Many lots came from the Norman-style villa near San Francisco, where the artist moved in the early 1960s, reflecting the eclectic taste of the era.
Although the spotlight was on the paintings, the presence of historical furnishings and decorative pieces in Italian Baroque, Tudor, and Louis XV styles attracted collectors attentive to European antiques. Overall, the typological variety of the lots contributed to making the session appealing to different audience segments.
Which career memorabilia were most contested?
A highly appealing section concerned the memorabilia related to Bing Crosby‘s career. Among the most evocative pieces was the ivory evening gown with a fur collar worn by his wife Kathryn in the 1966 Christmas special. The dress was sold for 1,534 dollars, almost double the maximum estimate.
A helmet used by Crosby in the film “Road to Zanzibar” (1941) reached 5,334 dollars, confirming the interest in memorabilia directly connected to film production. Moreover, these results align with the growing global market for Hollywood props, also documented by specialized platforms like auction houses dedicated to cinema.
Notable also was the result of the 19th-century English grand piano, sold for 95,250 dollars. The instrument came from the family’s California residence and represented one of the musical focal points of the home. In contrast to other furnishings, it fetched a price significantly above the average for decorative items.
What do the furnishings and artworks reveal about Crosby’s taste?
Many of the lots were linked to the villa near San Francisco, Bing Crosby’s main residence from the early 1960s. Furnishings in Italian Baroque, Tudor, and Louis XV styles outlined an interior with a historical and scenic taste, far from contemporary minimalist lines.
Additionally, the presence of numerous equestrian or western-themed works highlighted the artist’s passion for cowboy life. Not surprisingly, the collection included works by Herman Wendelborg Hansen and commissions to Reynolds Jones, which ideally dialogued with those of Russell.
Among these, a drawing by Jones depicting Crosby on horseback at the family ranch stood out, sold for 2,794 dollars. That said, the collection shows how the star’s collecting combined a strong rooting in American culture with an interest in 19th-century European schools.
What is the significance of this sale for the celebrity market?
Overall, the auction dedicated to Bing Crosby confirms the resilience of the market related to the great entertainment icons of the 20th century. The exceeding of estimates in about two-thirds of the lots indicates a solid and transversal demand, uniting enthusiasts of cinema, music, art, and historical design.
Moreover, the positive outcome of the sale fits into a broader trend of international auction houses to enhance private collections of famous figures.
Similar operations have involved, in recent years, the legacies of historical musicians and actors, as evidenced by results monitored by specialized auction analyses.
For the public, such auctions offer the opportunity to acquire not only artworks and period objects but fragments of a biographical narrative. For the market, they represent significant tests on the ability of past celebrities to still generate economic and symbolic value today.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
