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    Christie’s Presents:

The Daphne Guinness Collection

Sold to Benefit

The Isabella Blow Foundation

South Kensington - Christie’s is pleased to announce the single-owner evening auction of The Daphne Guinness Collection; Sold to Benefit the Isabella Blow Foundation which will take place on 27 June 2012 at Christie’s South Kensington saleroom, 85 Old Brompton Road. The contents of the sale will be on public exhibition at Christie’s from 23 to 27 June 2012.

The most glamorous summer event in the London fashion calendar, the auction and pre-sale exhibition of The Daphne Guinness Collection will include 100 pieces from the personal wardrobe of fashion’s most contemporary cutting-edge muse. Effortlessly fusing the classic and the avant-garde, the Honorable Daphne Guinness has made a name for herself not only for her outgoing style, but also as a designer, artist, model and collector of haute couture. Having famously bought the collection of the late Isabella Blow in 2011 so as to preserve it in its entirety, Ms. Guinness has generously decided to offer key looks from her own renowned collection for sale at Christie’s in order to launch the charity she has set up in Isabella Blow’s memory. The mission of The Isabella Blow Foundation is to continue the work of Issie, supporting new and emerging talent in the sphere where art and fashion meet – a realm championed by Daphne. A portion of the funds generated by the Foundation will also be donated to selected charities.

Pat Frost, Director of Christie’s Fashion Department commented: “We are delighted to be offering the fashion world this incredible one-off opportunity to buy some of the most iconic and cutting-edge haute couture of the early 21st century, owned and worn by Daphne Guinness. Not only will the auction comprise exceptional designs by the likes of McQueen, Chanel, Balenciaga and others, but it will also aptly benefit and shape the designers of the future. Christie’s is very proud to be able to play a part in helping Daphne to achieve her forward-looking and charitable aim.”

Christie’s has a reputation for selling the most important collections in the world – from art to jewellery, and furniture to couture. Most recently, Christie’s held a four-day series of landmark sales devoted to the iconic Collection of Elizabeth Taylor. A fitting celebration of Hollywood’s most glamorous star and her fearless sense of style, two days of sales were dedicated to the haute couture, fashion and accessories portion of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor realising a combined total of £3,602,243/ $5,541,913 / €4,267,273 – the most valuable private collection of fashion sold at auction. Christie’s has paid tribute to designers, style icons, and fashion houses through the ages many times over the years. Previous important single-owner fashion collections offered at Christie’s have included The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe, and Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, among others.

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Further details about The Daphne Guinness Collection will be available in due course
Click to view Christie’s fashion department page online

Notes to Editors:

Press Preview:  
Thursday, 21 June at 10am

Public Exhibition:        
Saturday 23 June: 11.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 24 June: 11.00am – 5.00pm
Monday 25 June: 9.00am – 7.30pm
Tuesday 26 June: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 27 June: 9.00am – 4.00pm 

Auction:   
The Daphne Guinness Collection; Sold to Benefit the Isabella Blow Foundation
27 June 2012 at 7.00pm

Ecatalogue: The full sale catalogue will be available to view online from mid-May 2012 at www.christies.com/calendar

Christie’s Fashion
Introduced in 1975, Christie’s Fashion, Costume and Textiles Department and the South Kensington saleroom were established simultaneously. Since then, the department has secured Christie’s place in the auction market as one of the top destinations for collectors of couture, costume, textiles and accessories. Today, the department contributes to numerous sales each year, offering items from all over the world, and featuring in no less than twenty-five auctions in 2011 including The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, as well as Christie’s annual Fashion sale, the bi-annual Elegance sale of Hermès handbags, and Interiors, Chinese and Indian and Islamic sales; estimates start from £500. Focusing on the best of the best, items featured in Christie’s sales date from the 17^th century right up to the present day, and range from haute couture and fashion pieces, through to historical clothing, handbags and luggage, and costume jewellery, as well as tapestries, samplers and more. The allure of Christie’s fashion sales draws International couture collectors and fashion lovers, as well as institutions, offering both ready-to-wear and museum-quality pieces.

Past Important Single-Owner Fashion Collections at Christie’s:
The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor                                           – 14 & 15 December 2011
The Anna Piaggi Collection                                                    – 3 December 2009
A selection from the personal wardrobe of Erin O’Connor           – 16 September 2008
Resurrection: Avant-Garde Fashion                                         – 30 October 2008
The Nan Kempner Collection                                                  – 1-2 October 2007
Dame Shirley Bassey – 50 Years of Glittering Gowns                  – 18 September 2003
Vivienne Westwood Archive from 1985-1995                             – 4 September 2001
The Dame Margot Fonteyn Collection                                       – 12 December 2000
The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe                                  – 27 & 28 October 1999
Unforgettable: Fashion of the Oscars                                       – 18 March 1999
Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales             – 25 June 1997
The Chanel Wardrobe and Casket of Costume Jewellery             – 2 December 1978

Christie’s South Kensington
Open seven days a week, Christie’s South Kensington is one of the busiest salerooms in the UK attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. With over 100 sales and offering more than 20,000 lots annually, estimates start from £300. Interiors sales dedicated to home furnishings are held three times a month alongside regular Sunday sales of single-owner collections. Specialised sales for the avid collector are scheduled throughout the year according to category, and include Film Posters, Pop Memorabilia, Antiquities, Jewellery, 20^th Century British Art and Chinese Works of Art, among others. In 2011 Christie’s South Kensington realised the highest ever total for the second successive year with sales of £115.9 million / $186.6 million.

About Christie’s
Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in 2011 that totaled £3.6 billion/$5.7 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery.  Private sales totaled £502 million / $808.6m in 2011, an increase of 44% on the previous year.

Christie’s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

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85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3LD

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Monday:  9.00am – 7.30pm

Tuesday – Friday:  9.00am – 5.00pm

Saturday & Sunday:  11.00am - 5.00pm

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Prices do not include buyers’ premium

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