Zsa Zsa Gabor Estate Offers Access To Hollywood’s Golden Age

Entertainment & Music — Auction Preview by Carolyn Mani

Zsa Zsa Gabor, synonymous with glamor, always charming and entertaining personified the celebrity lifestyle. Her passion for people, jewels and beauty was first and foremost. Heritage Auctions is honored to present The Estate of Zsa Zsa Gabor April 14, both live and online.

Zsa Zsa, the one and only, conjures up visions of flowing negligees, champagne and diamonds. She was an iconic celebrity who branded herself before marketing and self-promotion to create a personal brand was something celebrities did. Aligning herself with luxury companies such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Rolls-Royce and the most prominent designers of the day, she embraced the Hollywood lifestyle with open arms and maximized her exposure in the media.

I think she would have been pleased to know that her fans around the world are clamoring for the chance to bid on stunning gilt silver chargers that graced her dining table at dinners with the rich and famous, or her scripts from the many shows on which she appeared as a guest. Her roles often capitalized on her persona, portraying a smart-yet-very-chic feminine character.

Property from her home will include her art, china, crystal, silver, designer handbags, gowns and entertainment memorabilia. Included in the auction is the Steinway grand piano, which she owned during her (1951-54) marriage to actor George Sanders, (who won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role as “Addison DeWitt” in All About Eve) and clad in gold to match the Oscar he brought home.

Johann Berthelsen (American, 1883-1972)
Winter Scene, New York City, 42nd Street & 5th Avenue, circa mid-late 1940s
Oil on canvas

Twenty-Seven Cut Glass and Crystal Drinkwares, early 20th century and later

A Large and Impressive English Regency-Style Silver-Plated Roast Meat Trolley Carving Station

 

A Zsa Zsa Gabor Evening Gown, Circa 1980s

A Zsa Zsa Gabor Personally-Owned Movie Poster from “The Most Wanted Man.”
A 1970s-era reprinted one-sheet from the 1953 Astor Pictures Corporation film where Gabor had a starring role as “Lola La Blonde,”

A Steinway Model M Grand Piano Used in the Movie Behind the Candelabra, Gilt Decorated by Zsa Zsa Gabor and George Sanders, circa 1927

With the golden age of Hollywood now replaced by the impersonal realities of digital media, the  auction is one of the last hold outs for fans and friends alike to own a piece from this era. Her home graced the pages of magazines worldwide including Vanity Fair, Look, Life and Photoplay. Her brand was glamor – and her lifestyle was sold across the world as a glimpse into the world of Hollywood stars.

This is possibly the last chance to own a piece of this moment in time and to get a glimpse into the Golden Age of Hollywood. Zsa Zsa’s classic quotes reflect a bygone time, but made us realize her sense of humor transcended the politics and policies of the day.

Visit our entertainment department to view upcoming auctions and to browse our auction archives.

Written by: Carolyn Mani
Carolyn Mani is Heritage Auctions’ West Coast Director for Trusts and Estates.