The Glam Pad

elegant living and interior design

From the Desk of Lilly Pulitzer: A Recap of Lilly’s Estate Auction

When I first heard about the property auction for the estate of the late Lilly Pulitzer, held yesterday in West Palm Beach, Florida I simply knew I had to attend. Even though I never met her, I consider Lilly a role model, and I often find myself thinking, “What would Lilly do?” I am so inspired by her joie de vivre, her kind and charitable nature, her hostessing abilities, and her love for happy colors and whimsical prints. After pouring through the auction catalogue, I fell head over heels in love with this beautiful white wicker and bentwood writing desk that I learned was from Lilly’s home office and served as her personal writing desk. The moment I saw it, I knew it had to be mine, and I was quite certain the inspiration I would absorb while working at Lilly’s very own desk might just change my life!

Lilly Pulitzer’s personal writing desk

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and I do not think it was a coincidence that at the very moment I was writing this blog post about Lilly’s then upcoming estate auction, I was contacted by the Lilly Pulitzer PR team with the opportunity to guest post “Palm Beach Chic Décor” for the official Lilly Pulitzer Pinterest account. A shiver went up my spine when I received their email… I knew this was a sign! So my wonderful husband (he is SUCH a trooper!) and I drove up to West Palm yesterday morning for the auction, my heart pounding the entire way!

In addition to 600+ online bidders and nearly 400 advance bids, more than 400 Lilly fans from all over the country filled Leslie Hindman‘s auction house, and we were packed in like colorful Lilly Pulitzer/Jack Rogers-clad sardines. The auction started at 11 a.m. and when my husband and I arrived just after 10 a.m. it was already standing room only!

We pulled into the valet line behind this monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer Jeep.

Two and a half hours later, my desk (#67 out of 295 lots) was up, and I actually thought I might faint due to the combination of claustrophobia and excitement. After a heated bidding war with an unknown online bidder that seemed to last an eternity, the desk was mine!  I wish we could have stayed until the end, but we were starving and exhausted, so we paid for the desk, loaded it up in the back of our SUV, and were on our merry way.

Final bid prices were all over the map, with many items reaching a premium due to their previous owner’s iconic status.  Items ranged from $100 for a Blanc de Chine lamp (sorry I missed that one) to $42,500 for a pair of Chinese vases valued at $2 – $4K.  And a whimsical printed canvas map of Palm Beach went for $16,250!

      Blanc de Chine Lamp                        Pair of Chinese Vases                      Canvas Map of Palm Beach, Framed

Below are a few images from the auction catalogue, which you can download here. And if you would like to learn more about Lilly’s Palm Beach home, which recently sold and thankfully will be renovated and kept in tact, click here.

“Lilly Pulitzer Rosseau opened a world of color and style to all who wished to enter it, and if you didn’t, she would drag you in anyway. The most important things in her life were her family, her friends, and her animals. She filled her life with laughter, hugging, kissing, cooking, and entertaining with people she adored. No one loved throwing a party more; the more music and dancing, the better. Her life was a jungle of joy in which all were welcome. ‘Come one, come all. Stay a day. Stay a month.’ Mom had an open door policy for anyone and everyone, and she used her policy well. She loved people and life. She turned everything into magic. The world is a better place because of her. She taught us to throw color around, and instantly everything feels better. Thanks Mom! “
– Peter Pulitzer, Minnie Pulitzer McCluskey, and Liza Pulitzer Calhoun

 

 

 

I am delighted and honored to have this treasured piece of history in my home office, and I am delighted that I will be writing my blog posts, literally, “from the desk of Lilly Pulitzer”… Stay tuned as I finalize my office decor, and I will post pictures of Lilly’s desk in its new home.
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Comments

  4. How exciting!!!! It reminds me of the auction in Santa Barbara for Oprah. I didn't make that one, but I heard it was the same thing with prices all over the map. What an honor to have a piece of history to work on. It couldn't have gone to a better home! Pictures please!
    Sharon

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  5. Oh my gosh Andrea! I am sooo thrilled for you! I have butteflies just reading your marvelous post – thank you so much for sharing the experience! How i wish i could have seen it all for myself but your post was almost as good. I adore the pictures you shared as well. Thank you so much. You are just terrific! Xo elizabeth

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  14. Silly me thought I would bid and possibly get the cute Palm Beach Canvas. Anyways, I was able to buy an oak stool. It's not the fabulous desk you are so lucky to have, but it's a piece of Lilly nevertheless!

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  17. Aaaaaaahhhhhh! You are one lucky gal! That desk will be worth more in the long run. Just curious though, how much did you pay for it? No matter the price Andrea, it's worth the investment! So happy for you and I'm pretty sure Lilly is smiling somewhere happy for her desk and you too!!!!

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  18. This is so FUN!! Congrats and I am so happy that you ended up with this … I cannot imagine another person who would be better suited to sit at that desk and create!! Looking forward to your new life with a little piece of Lilly!! xo

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  20. Andrea, I can't think of a better person to have this desk than you! I know you will think of her and keep her spirit alive. I'm certain she will be smiling down on you from heaven every day!! Congratulations!!!

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  27. That desk was fabulous- so glad you got it! I wish we could have met while at the auction- I was there from Forth Worth but I was glued to my seat the entire auction. Such an experience! I so enjoy your reading your blog -especially when Dallas is in another polar vortex and I dream of palm beach…

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  29. How lucky for you!!! I was an online bidder and put in bids for a lot of items and I ended up with 3 wastebaskets(rattan) A pretty blue lamp (the inspiration for Shorely Blue maybe) and the best is a big lucite side table that I love. I hope the desk helps take you where you want to go 🙂

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  30. Oh my! I’m just now finding this post and I too had butterflies just thinking of attending her auction, let alone purchasing a fabulous piece of decorating history from an iconic lady! I am hoping to turn my Fl gulf coast home into a Lilly Pulitzer look alike! Thanks for sharing. What an honor for you!

    Reply

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