Estate of Groundbreaking Actress Diahann Carroll heads to auction

Subscribe to our free e-letter!

Webform

I agree to be emailed

Press Release February 21, 2020

Courtesy Bonhams

A photographic archive pertaining to the 1962 Broadway play, No Strings. Estimate: $600-800.

Los Angeles – Bonhams will present property from the Estate of Diahann Carroll on March 10, 2020. The collection includes approximately 150 memorabilia items, furniture, personal items, photos, clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Ms. Carroll’s personal collection will be featured in a dedicated exhibition and sale at Bonhams Los Angeles that will celebrate her iconic lifestyle and elegance.

courtesy bonhams

A diamond and cultured pearl 'toi et moi' ring. Estimate: $40,000-70,000.

Emily Waterfall, Head of Jewelry, Los Angeles, comments: “This sale encapsulates Diahann’s legacy through her personal memorabilia and offers a glimpse into her iconic lifestyle. We are thrilled to offer this special collection where every item tells a story and shares a piece of Hollywood’s history.”

Suzanne Kay, Ms. Carroll’s daughter, said: “My mother was a fascinating, complicated, beautiful, and talented woman who lived life to the fullest. As she travelled the world, she collected art, furniture, and clothes that she loved and she firmly believed she deserved to have the best. She was a woman who never let anyone else define her.”

courtesy bonhams

A Steinway Ebonized Baby Grand Piano, 20th century. Estimate: $4,000-6,000.

About Diahann Carroll (1935-2019)
Diahann Carroll was an award-winning entertainer and courageous trailblazer who broke through the color barrier of the entertainment world. As a captivating singer and actress, she gained recognition through her work in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts and went on to win a Tony Award, an Academy Award® nomination, and make television history with her roles on Julia and Dynasty.

Diahann Carroll passed away in Los Angeles on October 4, 2019 at the age of 84 following a long battle with breast cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993. A survivor, she worked tirelessly to raise awareness around the disease, its diagnosis, and treatment. She was a founding member of the Celebrity Action Council, a volunteer group that served the women’s outreach of the Los Angeles Mission.