Morning session, lots 1-230, begins at 10am. The afternoon session, lots 231-440, will begin at 2pm.
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We have been busy behind the scenes preparing a jaw-dropping selection of spectacular fashion for you all. We have rare and important vintage couture straight from the pages of the history books, including an exceptional Elsa Schiaparelli daisy-embroidered jacket from Autumn-Winter 1937-38 (lot 267), a Madeleine Vionnet couture fringed crêpe evening gown, April 1938 (lot 269) and a dazzling Yves Saint Laurent couture bejewelled gold sequined dress, Autumn-Winter 1966 (lot 298). We offer more treasures from the renowned Sandy Schreier Collection including a rare and early Alix Barton/Madame Grès couture ivory jersey evening coat-dress (which was featured in Vogue), 1934 (lot 264), and a Christian Dior by Yves Saint Laurent couture 'Trapeze'-line day dress, Spring-Summer 1958 (lot 283).
For Thea Porter fans we have the collection of Margaret 'Bea' Larsson (lots 307-314). Bea was a close friend of Thea Porter and godmother to her niece. And for those who love Bill Gibb, we have the wardrobe of Trinidad and Tobago-born British actress Nina Baden-Semper (lots 323-327), who adored his designs.
We are honoured to include the collections of two notably elegant ladies: Victoria, Lady de Rothschild (lots 122 – 173) and Countess Maya von Schönburg-Glauchau (lots 174-203), who both graced the front rows of the Paris couture shows and featured in the elite British social season for decades. This auction provides tantalising glimpses into the wardrobes of these two beautiful women.
Always dear to our hearts is the work of the late, great Alexander McQueen. Lot 410 is the superb Givenchy haute couture by McQueen wildflower embroidered gown, Autumn-Winter 1999-2000. Lot 407 is the very rare and special Dai Rees for McQueen headpiece for 'La Poupée (The Doll)', Spring-Summer 1997. It was worn on the runway by Stella Tennant and Jade Parfitt. A unique piece of fashion history.
Our auction would not be complete without a selection of artifacts relating to our Royal Family, especially in this Jubilee year. Lot 280, a cotton dress by Horrockses, was produced to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and is printed with repeats of ‘Elizabeth Regina, 1953’. Also featured in this sale are the stockings, shoes and chemise once worn by her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (lots 214 and 215).
Unbelievably, lightning does appear to strike twice in the saleroom of KTA: also starring in this sale is an Issey Miyake breastplate, Autumn-Winter 1980 - identical to the one just sold in our last ‘Passion for Fashion’ auction (lot 337). So, if you missed out last time, you now have a rare second chance to acquire this piece of art!
Lot 196 - A scarlet taffeta fancy dress gown in 18th century style, 2008
Sold for £750
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 197 - A changeant green/purple silk-chiffon evening gown, 1990s
Sold for £260
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 198 - An Hervé Léger raspberry-pink knitted spandex-blend cocktail dress, 1990s-2000s
Sold for £420
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 199 - A Loris Azzaro navy silk-crêpe A-line mini dress, 2000s
Sold for £320
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 200 - A Halston royal-blue jersey evening gown, 2000s
Sold for £240
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 201 - A Jovani nude-illusion evening gown, modern
Sold for £460
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 202 - An Alexander McQueen off-white silk faille mantle, Spring-Summer 2005
Sold for £380
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 203 - An Alice Temperley green chiffon evening gown, circa 2008
Sold for £440
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 204 - A black wool dinner suit originally owned by Bing Crosby, 1923
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 205 - Sean Connery's dark-grey wool suit, 1975
Sold for £1,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 206 - Sean Connery's bespoke brown checked wool jacket, 1975
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 207 - Sean Connery's navy gabardine jacket, 1969
Sold for £500
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 208 - Sean Connery's striped tweed jacket, 1971
Sold for £440
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 212 - A Victor Edelstein fashion illustration of Princess Diana's 1986 green satin ball gown
Sold for £2,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 213 - A Victor Edelstein fashion illustration of Princess Diana's 1986 mauve lace evening gown
Sold for £2,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 214 - Queen Victoria's stockings and shoes, late 19th century
Sold for £3,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 215 - Queen Victoria's chemise, late 19th century
Sold for £440
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 217 - A fine pair of checked leather ladies' shoes, circa 1800
Sold for £900
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 218 - A fine figured silk ball or bridal gown and matching spencer, circa 1822
Sold for £3,800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 219 - A good printed chintz dress and lawn chemisette, circa 1825
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 220 - A Charles Frederick Worth evening cape, circa 1894
Sold for £700
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 221 - A Cantonese embroidered silk shawl, Chinese, late 19th century
Sold for £320
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 222 - A rare Redfern Paris walking suit, circa 1900
Sold for £32,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 224 - Three Irish crochet blouses, circa 1910
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 225 - Two Irish crochet blouses and a bolero, circa 1910
Sold for £220
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 226 - A Liberty & Co girl's smock dress, circa 1910
Sold for £500
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 227 - A Liberty's Japanese embroidered kimono-style robe, circa 1910
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 228 - A Liberty & Co satin burnouse evening cape, circa 1915
Sold for £440
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 229 - A rare Madeleine & Madeleine green velvet orientalist robe, circa 1919
Sold for £950
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 230 - A jade-green velvet opera coat, 1918-20
Sold for £900
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 231 - A gold and black sequined opera coat, 1920s
Sold for £900
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 232 - A fine floral printed velvet coat, mid-1920s
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 233 - A floral appliquéd black velvet opera coat, early-1920s
Sold for £460
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 234 - A beaded tunic/overdress, attributed to Gabrielle Chanel, Spring-Summer 1922
Sold for £4,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 235 - A good beaded and sequined tulle evening dress, early 1920s
Sold for £750
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 236 - A good black on black beaded flapper dress, circa 1921
Sold for £300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 237 - A rare Alice Bernard evening dress, 1922-25
Sold for £3,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 238 - A fine gold and red 'cobweb' flapper dress, mid-1920s
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 240 - A good two-piece ensemble of embellished and cut-worked black chiffon, 1920s
Sold for £460
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 241 - An embroidered and beaded flapper dress, circa 1920
Sold for £400
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 242 - A Chanel couture beaded black georgette under-dress, 1926-28
Sold for £1,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 243 - A midnight blue chiffon flapper dress, 1926-28
Sold for £420
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 244 - A black and gold beaded flapper dress, 1928-29
Sold for £440
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)