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!
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!
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, FramedBelow 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.
John Fowler’s Nantclwyd Hall Revisited
The Lauders’ Palm Beach Mansion: A Snapshot in Time
Charming in Charlotte: A Classic Meyers Park Renovation
An English Country Home by Penny Morrison
how much fun and truly a once in a lifetime experience!! Congrats on your purchase… can't wait to see where it ends up! xx
yea!!!
so glad that you got the desk!
Congratulations! What a purchase! Can't wait to see it in situ.
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
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
What a fun story!! And a gorgeous piece! So happy for your new addition 😉
That is tooooo much fun! I love that you went for it! Once in a life time piece, so worth it. And Congrats on the guest pinner opportunity! That is so fun! xo
What a fabulous post and at the end of all of that, you got the desk – I think I will have to fan myself, just, wow!
How amazing! What a wonderful husband you have in addition to the fabulous desk! Can't wait to see pictures of your desk set up for blogging.
Yipee!!! I am sure you were grinning from ear to ear when you won that auction! Looking forward to seeing that desk in it's new home.
You dawg! So jealous;) Happy for you, def meant to be!!!
That's so amazing that you got her desk!
So happy for you! What a treasure! Love Lilly!
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!
Congratulations!! I wondered what you were hoping for, I think you got the best thing possible. Can't wait to see where you out it.
Oh good!!! I'm so thrilled that you got it, it was truly meant to be. Wahoo! I'm so excited for you. Lilly knew it would be in good hands. 🙂
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!!!!
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
That is amazing! Congrats! Such a great story for you to tell for years to come!
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!!!
That is sooo friggin' awesome!!! Love the bits of history etched into each treasured piece…I bet you'll wake up sooo inspired every dang day! Congrats are an order!
Thank you again for visiting and hope to see you back for my latest event design!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture Blog
OMG!! What an exciting event! And the excitement of bidding on something so precious. The desk is gorgeous and so chic. Congratulations! And enjoy, enjoy it! Show us how you style it.
This is so exciting!! I love Lilly Pulitzer and ask myself the same question "What would Lilly do?" Can't wait to see how you style it! How fun!!
What a fun experience that must have been!!! I love the desk and cant wait to see it in your space!!
How amazing is that! Everything you create from the desk is going to be pure GOLD, but then again everything you create is anyway!
OMGOODNESS THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!! I'm so excited for you, Andrea! How amazing it will be for you to work at her desk!
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…
I can not believe that I missed this post. This is incredible!! I would have fainted. I am dying over this and can't wait to see it in your home.
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 🙂
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!