The Collection of Mrs. Henry Ford II: Palm Beach

The Collection of Mrs. Henry Ford II, Palm Beach, Florida, is to be offered at Christie’s New York on 30 March. With estimates ranging from $400 to $400,000, the sale contains masterpiece objects including a rare ormolu-mounted white marble and biscuit-porcelain clock by Benjamin Vulliamy, circa 1791, and important English furniture and works of art by the most pre-eminent cabinet makers of the George III period including John Cobb, Ince & Mayhew, Pierre Langlois, John Linnell and Thomas Chippendale. Many of the most important works of English and European furniture in the collection were acquired through McMillen Inc. design firm in the 1950s to decorate the Grosse Pointe Michigan home of Henry Ford II and are documented in archival photography and watercolor drawings.

Masterworks of decorative arts are complemented by bronzes by Aristide Maillol (1861-1944), Georg Kolbe (1877-1947) Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) and fine art including a rare landscape drawing of the Rhine by Francis Towne (1739-1816) and a study for Julius LeBlanc Stewart’s ‘Full Speed’ (1855-1919).  During her lifetime, Kathleen DuRoss Ford worked with designers as diverse as Mario Buatta, Colefax and Fowler, Grant White and David Easton – the resulting collections are thereby enhanced with decorative soft furnishings, lighting, silver, porcelain services, entertaining wares, needlework carpets, and objects of virtue.

The Collection of Mrs. Henry Ford II: Eaton Square and Turville Grange will be offered in London on the 15 April.

Viewings are by appointment only, beginning 26 March. To make an appointment or for more information, please contact Nathalie Ferneau at NFerneau@christies.com.