Frank Sinatra estate to sell jewellery, art

PIECES once owned by Ol’ Blue Eyes are going up for sale.

In December, Sotheby’s will auction scores of items that belonged to Frank Sinatra and his wife of 22 years, Barbara.

“Lady Blue Eyes: Property of Barbara and Frank Sinatra” will include about 300 objects, ranging from books and memorabilia to jewellery and artwork. The sale is expected to fetch about US$ 3.5 million, Sotheby’s said on Wednesday in a statement.

Barbara Sinatra, who died last year, was the entertainer’s fourth wife. The items come from their California residences in Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Malibu, and illustrate “the fashionable lifestyle of a beloved entertainer and philanthropist, and the home life where the couple surrounded themselves with the people and objects they loved,” Sotheby’s said. Her collection of jewellery and accessories also is for sale.

Sotheby’s will offer the items during live auctions Dec 4 and Dec 6, as well as during an online sale from Nov 27 through Dec 7.

Among the objects available are:

— A 1973 Norman Rockwell painting titled “Sinatra: An American Classic ( Portrait of Frank Sinatra),” which is estimated at US$ 80,000 to US$ 120,000.

— A portrait of a woman in a green dress and red turban by Walt Kuhn, “Girl With Turban (Zuleika).” Estimate: US$ 300,000 to US$ 500,000.

— A 1991 abstract painting in the style of Piet Mondrian by Sinatra himself, called “Abstract after Mondrian” and valued at US$ 10,000 to US$ 15,000.

— A copy of the revised fi nal script for “From Here to Eternity,” which won Sinatra an Oscar for best supporting actor. It’s estimated at US$ 7,000 to US$ 9,000.

— Childe Hassam’s 1914 oil painting “Bathers and Cloud Reflections,” estimated at US$ 200,000 to US$ 300,000.

Other highlights include jewellery from Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari and Marina B, as well as photos from Sinatra’s Rat Pack days and political memorabilia associated with US presidents stretching from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton.