UPS brought a box to me last week. Opening it, I found a pair of auction catalogs from Sothebys announcing the upcoming auctions of properties from the collections of Mr and Mrs Paul Mellon and was immediately enthralled by the beautiful scenes of their properties, collections, gardens and, most of all, felt as though a life and its values were opened to me.
Mrs. Mellon, known as Bunny, was "characterized by understated accomplishment and graceful perfection in all of her numerous endeavors ... principal among these were very deep and sustained loves for art, horticulture and landscape design."
Here is a photo of Bunny which seems to me to characterize what I know about her - she seems very welcoming as she says hello over her collection of topiaries sunning in their clay pots. In the interior shots in her homes topiaries are a very welcome addition to the decor and add life to each room.
The auctions first catalog features the Mellon's home in Virginia named Oak Spring Farm in a most personal way. One enters, driving through the Virginia countryside on a beautiful day, the pastures and verdant and the fields are divided by stone and rail fences. The countryside seems to breath peaceful ...green....fertile.
And we come to the farm:
The door has been left open for us to enter Bunny's home; to come into the brick floored entry with its wrought iron umbrella stand filled with a cane collection, down the hall furnished with settees, paintings, smaller tables and chairs into what seems to be a small library.
These pages have tiny numbers next to each item which will be auctioned and on the side of each page or on following pages are descriptions and estimated prices. Next to the sofa is a small Louis XV miniature commode - there is a pair although only one is shown. I have just the spot for these. The small round table is home to a rare 'Sea Life' chess set (est. $10,000 - 15,000). The pawns are urchins topped by a starfish and, rather than black and white players, these are blue and red. Interesting. The next room is the living room with black and white painted floors, furniture from around the globe, topiaries, baskets and the first of many porcelain collections.
This room is very light filled, comfortable and extremely personal. The collections here were inspired by love of the organic in nature, flowers and assorted items of personal interest. There are espaliers of apples along the garden paths and collections of apple and pear shaped boxes inside . . . lovely.
This interesting shelf unit appears to be in the hallway between the living and dining rooms. Some of the porcelains in it are as follows:
This is a grouping of Chelsea plates circa 1758-60.
The cauliflower tureens date from 1770; the lettuces at top left and middle right are mid 19th century and the lower lettuce is circa 1844-47. All are tureens.
This group of Chelsea eel stands are also Chelsea circa 1755. The following group of asparagus boxes are from many countries, dated from 1750 until mid eighteen century. I have several favorites here, too.
This concludes Session One of the Sothebys sale. I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into a lovely life. I know I have.
