Dee and Tommy Hilfiger’s Collection of Fine Paintings, Celebrity Memorabilia, and More at Brunk Auctions

Fashion icons Dee and Tommy Hilfiger will present a variety of items from their personal collection with Brunk Auctions this July. The robust auction catalog includes celebrity photography, as well as furniture, decorative art, and collectibles. Online bidding options are available through Bidsquare. 

Among the top lots of this sale is a pair of menagerie paintings in the manner of Melchior d’Hondecoeter (lot #119; estimate: USD 10,000 – $15,000). Both Peacock, Ducks, and Birds with a Monkey and A Turkey, Chickens, Pigeons, and Birds with a Rabbit are unsigned. They are presented together in matching parcel gilt and painted frames. Hondecoeter was a Dutch painter who worked in the mid- to late-17th century. He specialized in animal paintings and eventually focused almost exclusively on birds. Unlike many other bird painters of his time, Hondecoeter portrayed his fowl as living individuals capable of drama and expression instead of merely meat or objects of sport. Turbulent skies often dominate the background of Hondecoeter’s paintings, including the offered examples. 

Two black-and-white photographs by Patrick Demarchelier will be available in this sale. Lot #21 is titled Cheetah and depicts the big cat balanced atop a grassy mound (estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). This still is dated 1993 and was captured in Tanzania. Demarchelier’s Giraffes is also available (lot #22; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). It dates from the same trip to Tanzania and features three giraffes standing in a group, gazing at the viewer. Patrick Demarchelier was best known for his fashion photography, which was published in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and other publications.  

Beyond fine art, this sale includes several fine silver items, including a pair of sterling silver repousse candlesticks (lot #165; estimate: $2,000 – $3,000). Produced by the Israeli company Hadad Bros., these 20th-century candlesticks feature rounded bases and elaborate scrollwork throughout. A coin silver entrée dish with stag handles and finial (lot #93; estimate: $1,000 – $1,500) will be presented alongside a Gorham sterling silver and horn handle loving cup (lot #88; estimate: $500 – $800). 

Bidders can also consider the following lots: 

• A limited edition 1965 Shelby pool table (lot #66; estimate: $5,000 – $7,000)
• A Helmut Newton signed sumo book with a custom stand (lot #37; estimate: $2,000 – $4,000)
• A palace-sized Persian Malayer carpet (lot #128; estimate: $1,500 – $2,500) 
• A custom Amen Wardy sofa and ottoman pair upholstered in blue jeans (lot #55; estimate: $1,200 – $1,800) 
• A pair of Knoll Wassily chairs (lot #5; estimate: $1,000 – $2,000)

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has been conducting sales of fine and decorative arts for over 30 years. Auctions are held in the company’s North Carolina sale room and attract a global audience. Founded by Robert Brunk in 1983, the auction house now employs a full-time staff of nearly 30 specialists with over 100 years of combined experience. Bob brought to bear his experience as an anthropologist, writer, and professional woodworker, an unmistakable combination of skills that continue to illuminate catalog entries and elucidate auction-goers. He is now a valued consultant and continues as auctioneer. Andrew Brunk joined his father in 2005. His curatorial experience has brought additional focus on research and connoisseurship. Andrew Brunk’s experience as the head of the American furniture department at one of the world’s largest auction houses has allowed Brunk Auctions to continually align itself with the best in the business. The firm values connoisseurship, customer service, transparency, and stellar results for both buyers and sellers.

The Collection of Dee and Tommy Hilfiger Auction will begin at 10:00 AM EDT on July 31, 2024. To browse the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. 

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