To Boldly Go: Doyle’s Iris Apfel Collection Sale Yields Fabulous Results

Style icon and influencer Iris Apfel (American, 1921 – 2024) lived life to its fullest. Her signature mantra, “More is more and less is a bore,” was apparent in the way she dressed, ran her businesses, and encouraged her followers to fearlessly pursue their authentic paths. Doyle of New York, NY presented its two-day Iris Apfel Collection event on March 4 and 5, 2025. Lots #1 – 300 were sold on the first day, and lots #400 – 733 were sold on the second day. According to Doyle, the auction realized more than twice its presale estimate and featured a 99% sell-through rate. 

Doyle’s sale followed on the heels of Christie’s Unapologetically Iris: The Collection of Iris Apfel auction. Christie’s 220-lot Apfel sale, which closed on February 13, 2025, realized nearly USD 930,000. Here are some highlights from Doyle’s recent event that caught the eye of the Auction Daily team.

Iris Apfel Costume Jewelry

The top lot in this exciting event was #299, a large collection of Iris Apfel’s vintage costume jewelry. Estimated at $400 to $600, it sold for $41,600. The grouping included dramatic and well-embellished faux gem pins, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other accessories in the form of bows, flowers, animals, and geometric shapes. Brands and makers included examples by Erickson Beamon and Roger Jean Pierre.

Both Erickson Beamon and Roger Jean Pierre jewelry items are known for their eye-catching and over-the-top designs, so it is no surprise that Ms. Apfel had an eye for their bold aesthetics. Erickson Beamon was founded in 1983 by three designers who quickly realized their greatest success lay in jewelry design and production. Other Erickson Beamon enthusiasts include Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. Roger Jean Pierre began producing glamorous costume jewelry in the mid-1930s. Throughout his career, he partnered with companies and individuals such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Jean Clement, Dior, and Balenciaga, among many others. One of his signature jewelry elements was large faux fresh water pearls, which were actually glass beads painted in a special finish to give them a pearl-like luster.

Provincial German School Painting

Fine art that reflected Iris Apfel’s playful, quirky spirit was well represented in this sale. Lot #82, a late 18th- to early 19th-century Provincial German School painting of the Brothers Graf Karl Florian von Seldern and Freiherr Franz von Seldern, was estimated at $400 to $600 and realized $6,400. It featured two very well dressed little boys with mature faces jointly holding a small bouquet. This oil on canvas work was inscribed on verso with the names and birthdates of the siblings. 

Fine art from the Provincial German School generally was produced by self-trained, less technically skilled artists who worked outside of the era’s established schools of art. These included the Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Munich schools. Common subject themes included battlefield scenes with soldiers on horseback, portraits, outdoor scenery, and tableaus.  

Neoclassical-Style Side Chairs

This sale also included a fine offering of furniture from Ms. Apfel’s Palm Beach, FL estate. Lot #277, a pair of Neoclassical-style marquetry side chairs, was estimated at $300 to $400 and delivered $4,800. The duo measured 37 inches tall and 17 inches wide. Each was elegantly detailed with a baluster-turned top rail above a pierced splat, a flared seat with dramatic tiger printed fabric, and four tapering, square legs.

Marquetry refers to the art of embellishing furniture and other functional and decorative items with small, inlaid pieces of wood and other materials, including bone, shell, ivory, and metal– much like a flush mosaic. The art form took off starting in the late 16th to early 17th centuries, when it was often used to decorate the interior of churches and other religious spaces. The word ‘marquetry’ derives from a French word meaning ‘to variegate.’

Christian Dior Evening Dress

Clothing worn by Iris Apfel was another key category in this early spring sale. Lot #120, a Christian Dior light blue and crème silk stripe evening dress, was estimated at $400 to $600 and traded hands at $2,304. This 20th-century, possibly custom example featured a deep and open V style neckline, long and dramatic puffy sleeves, a gathered pouf, and an oversized side bow decoration.

Christian Dior couture made several appearances throughout this two-day sale and clearly was a preferred brand from Ms. Apfel’s closet. The designer introduced his first collection right after the conclusion of World War II and was active in the fashion industry until his death in 1957. His clothing designs were feminine as well as striking. They were often made in stunning, high-quality materials and finished with hand embroidery, fringe, or other complementary trims. 

Louis XVI-Style Umbrella Stand

Decorative items, household goods, handbags, and eyeglass frames from the Apfel estate rounded out this two-day event. Lot #468, a Louis XVI-style gray painted caned umbrella stand, was estimated at $200 to $400 and delivered $4,480. This late 19th- to early 20th-century piece was oval-shaped and decorated with square and oval-shaped woven cane side panels. It stood on matching small carved feet.

To browse the complete results of this Iris Apfel collection sale, visit Doyle.

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