The Best Is Yet to Come: Julien’s Tony Bennett: A Life Well Lived Auction

Julien’s of Beverly Hills, CA held its Tony Bennett: A Life Well Lived auction from April 18 to 19, 2024 at the Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame at Lincoln Center in New York City. This 784-lot sale featured a full range of fine and decorative artwork, jewelry and watches, honors and awards, ephemera, and other materials from the estate of Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, 1926 – 2023). Bennett is considered by many to be one of the most popular, collaborative, and prolific entertainers of all time. Throughout his career, he sold north of 50 million records worldwide. Bennett was also known for his philanthropy and social activism. Here are some Bennett auction highlights that caught our eye and interest.

The top lot in this star-studded sale was #588, a typed, signed letter by Martin Luther King Jr. to Bennett discussing the Selma to Montgomery march. Estimated at USD 20,000 to $30,000, it sold for $78,000. This one-page note on King’s personal stationery was dated April 5, 1965 and was mounted on a piece of white cardboard. The lot also included the letter’s original envelope, which was postmarked April 12, 1965 from Atlanta, GA. This correspondence thanked Bennett for performing for the activists who participated in this historic protest. It read, in part, “I speak for myself and for the courageous 300 marchers and all the other people who came to St. Jude’s to be spurred on to those final miles to the capitol in Montgomery. Your talent and good will were not only heard by those thousands of ears, but were felt in those thousands of hearts, and I give my deepest thanks and appreciation to you.”

Bennett was active in civil rights since his youth. His lifelong commitment to equality became an important part of his legacy. In the early 1950s, he observed that Black performers were not given the same respect and access as their white counterparts. This made a huge, lasting impression on him. As such, he dedicated his life to addressing this systemic bias. In his 1998 autobiography, Bennett noted, “Nate and Duke were geniuses, brilliant human beings who gave the world some of the most beautiful music it’s ever heard, and yet they were treated like second-class citizens. The whole situation enraged me.”

Jewelry and watches owned and worn by Bennett also captured eye-popping results in this sale. Lot #153, an 18-karat gold Heraldic ring gifted to Bennett by the Sinatra family, was estimated at $3,000 to $5,000 and delivered $63,000. This ring was detailed with an 18mm by 9.5mm recessed center oval top and a crowned lion with three stars. This symbol was the Sinatra family crest from Sicily. This size 8 ring weighed 7.5 grams. The Sinatras gave this keepsake to Bennett as a thank-you gift when Bennett and his wife founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a NYC public high school in Astoria, Queens.

Lot #148, a Cartier stainless steel quartz Pasha De Cartier wristwatch– also gifted from Frank Sinatra– was estimated at $3,000 to $5,000 and delivered $52,000. This exceptional, fully-marked watch was detailed with a bronze circular dial, glow-in-the-dark hands, a date window, three round timekeeping dials, and three cabochon sapphire crowns. It was on a brown leather strap that opened and closed via a snap buckle. The back was marked “Pasha de Cartier, no. 40310772” and engraved with “To Tony Thanks Frank A. Sinatra.”

As these two auction highlights suggest, Bennett and Sinatra shared a long history of friendship and support. In 2009, Bennett told Vanity Fair, “Frank Sinatra was my best friend.” When Bennett was 11, he heard Sinatra– who was 19 at the time– on the radio and was drawn to the young man’s talent, confidence, and voice. They would meet in person a few years later, and Sinatra would go on to become a supporter and mentor figure to Bennett. To honor this relationship, Bennett named the entertainment school he founded in New York after Sinatra. When asked why, Bennett told The Guardian in 2011 in part, “He changed my life, … he called me the best he’d heard. And since then, I sold out around the world. I thought [naming the school after him] was proper etiquette.”

Fine and decorative art from Bennett’s collection was another premier category in this red-carpet event. Lot #317, an original still life by artist David Hockney (British, b. 1937), was estimated at $10,000 to $15,000 and realized $28,575. It was in the form of a black and white image printed on 24 panels of poster board mounted to backing material. Elements of the scene included a teapot, cup and saucer, a dog sitting on a rug on the floor, and a copy of The Los Angeles Times with an image of Bennett above the fold. This beloved artwork was prominently displayed in his living room and pictured in the film The Zen of Bennett.

The Zen of Bennett was produced by Unjoo Moon in 2012. This film, made just as Bennett was turning 85, documented how the singer managed the creative, logistical, and operational processes associated with recording an album. In this case, it was Duets ll. This record was released on September 20, 2011 and featured collaborations with industry giants including Lady Gaga, Queen Latifah, Andrea Bocelli, Natalie Cole, Willie Nelson, and others. Bennett also recorded “Body and Soul” with Amy Winehouse as part of this project; sadly, this track became Winehouse’s final recording before her death in July of 2011.

Clothing, awards, memorabilia, and other personal items from Bennett’s estate rounded out this two-day event. Lot #85, Bennett’s Library of Congress medal for The Gershwin Prize For Popular Song, was estimated at $600 to $800 and scored $4,875. This award from 2017 was housed in a presentation box and was decorated with relief portraits of musicians George and Ira Gershwin. The lot also included award-associated materials including a certificate and an invitation to the award ceremony and tribute concert. This celebration was held on November 15, 2017 in Washington, DC at the DAR Constitution Hall, the District’s largest concert hall.

For more information on Julien’s April 18 to 19, 2024 Tony Bennett: A Life Well Lived sale, visit Julien’s. 

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