Christie’s to hold a landmark auction on 20 November celebrating Annabel’s
The famous nightclub at 44 Berkeley Square ·1963–2018 is the legendary destination of royalty, fashion icons, recording stars and Hollywood greats alike, from Kate Moss to Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, to Jack Nicholson, Elizabeth Taylor and Leonardo Di Caprio, among many others, Annabel’s was founded 55 years ago by Mark Birley; Richard Caring acquired the Birley Group – including Annabel’s – in 2007. The auction comprises over 250 lots, spanning Modern British, Old Master, 19th century and Victorian Paintings and Drawings; Political Cartoons; Prints; Vintage Posters; Furniture, Glassware, Silver and Lighting; as well as a complete Annabel’s table setting for eight . The sale will also feature a small number of works from Harry’s Bar. Led by one of the final portraits of Henry Thomas by Glyn Philpot, R.A., 1937, estimates range from £50 to £120,000. Offering unprecedented access to the normally private world of Annabel’s, the pre-sale public view will take place in-situ at 44 Berkeley Square from 16 to the 20 November. The auction at Christie’s, King Street, will also be live streamed into the new club at 46 Berkeley Square.
Among the rich array of evocative highlights offered from the old Annabel’s club, including ‘the red velvet corner sofa’ and the iconic Bodhisattva from The Buddha Room (estimate: £10,000-20,000, is Christian Voigt’s last picture of Annabel’s taken before the doors were closed (estimate: £5,0008,000). The proceeds from this lot by Voigt, along with another lot comprising 10 framed prints by photographer Richard Young celebrating the many legendary Members and Friends who have gathered at Annabel’s over the years including iconic images of Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Kate Moss, Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine, will go to The Children’s
Charity For The
Good Of All Children (estimate: £5,000-8,000).
Orlando Rock, Christie’s UK Chairman comments: “Everyone has a story to tell about Annabel’s, the iconic and visionary London nightclub founded by Mark Birley over half a century ago. Emerging from the ashes of London’s postwar gloom, Annabel’s became synonymous with glamorous sophistication, epitomising the