Fashion Legend Iris Apfel’s Priceless Treasures From Palm Beach Home To Be Auctioned Off After Her Death

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Iris Apfel

Taylor Hill/Getty Images; Getty Images; Christie’s

Few people have had the fabulous and frisky impact on the world of design as the mercurial Iris Apfel—and now, some of her most treasured possessions are set for the auction block.

Apfel, known for her bold statement glasses, brilliant colors, and outspoken observations, reigned supreme over her unique niche in the worlds of interior and fashion design.

Her style also inspired the world’s top designers, and her pieces have been featured in the most prominent homes in the country—including the White House.

“Fashion and interior design are one and the same,” she once famously declared.

Starting on Jan. 28, Christie’s will offer more than 200 items online from Apfel’s personal collection.

Unapologetically Iris: The Collection of Iris Apfel will include fashion and jewelry from her wonderful and whimsical wardrobe, as well as art and furniture from her homes in New York and Florida.

Iconic items belonging to Iris Apfel will be headed to auction later this month.

Noam Galai/Getty Images for Central Park Tower

Apfel, who died in March 2024 at the age of 102, was born in Queens, New York, in 1921. She studied art history and in 1951, along with her husband, Carl Apfel, she founded Old World Weavers, a textile company that became one of the most respected brands in the industry.

From there, her prowess in the design industry grew, reaching its apex after she retired. A 2005 show at the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art featured her famous personal collection of costume jewelry and clothing, and in 2019, she signed with IMG, becoming a fashion model at the age of 97.

“If you’re lucky enough to get old, you should celebrate it. I’m the world’s oldest teenager,” she is known to have said.

Mattel even created a Barbie Doll in her image in 2018. You can bid on the actual outfit that inspired it, beads, bangles, glasses and all, for an estimated $400 to $600, in the Christie’s Auction.

They created a Barbie in Iris Apfel's honor.
Mattel created a Barbie in Apfel’s honor.

Ebay

You can buy the outfit that inspired the Barbie at the Christie's auction.
You can buy the outfit that inspired the Barbie at the Christie’s auction.

Christie’s

pfel's flamboyant designs were inspired by her travels.
Apfel’s flamboyant designs were inspired by her world travels.

Ruggable

Apfel’s flamboyant style was influenced by her world travels. She became a master of blending old with new, ornate with simple, bright colors with neutrals, and prints with prints.

Those penchants are prominent in the numerous pieces offered in the Christie’s auction. Each one was selected by Apfel, and there are many photographs of her either wearing the items or displaying them in her personal residences. Apfel moved out of her widely documented New York City apartment in 2016, and moved to Palm Beach, where she also had stylish digs.

While it’s unclear what happened to the apartment itself, many of the items from her personal collection will be on show at The Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History in Boynton Beach, FL.

But not all of them.

The pièce de résistance

The pièce de résistance of the Christie’s collection would have to be the life-size Gussy, the Ostrich Bar, which has appeared in many photographs.

“I used to have my own interior design business, and every year I’d do a few big buying trips. In the ’70s I went to Italy and visited the workshop of a fabulous wood carver. I knew I wanted him to make me something, and since I love ostriches, I came up with the crazy idea of having a life-size one carved out of this beautiful bleached wood. Then I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was a bar, too?’ So I designed the wing on a hinge, which allows you to open the ostrich and fill the belly with booze,” Apfel once said.

Best for bidding

We’ve picked out a few more fabulous finds that could audaciously Apfel-ize your own dwelling.

Painted leather six-panel floor screen

This antique floor screen is one of the costlier items on offer.
This antique floor screen is one of the costlier items on offer.

Christie’s

This piece is an example of Apfel’s penchant for mixing light with dark, old with new—and it could be the ideal way to divide your open floor plan.

A pair of Italian silvered armchairs

These open scallop-shell chairs with dolphin arms and seahorse-like legs look like they could walk away with you.
These open scallop-shell chairs with dolphin arms and seahorse-like legs look like they could walk away with you.

Christie’s


When Apfel famously said, “More is more and less is a bore,” she might have been referring to these wild, open scallop-shell chairs with dolphin arms and seahorse-like legs. More for conversation than for comfort, they’re certainly unique.

Two brass ceiling lights with ceramic parrots

Two different designers created these elaborate ceiling lamps.
Two different designers created these elaborate ceiling lamps.

Christie’s

These ornate brass ceiling lamps with ceramic parrots are designated for the hallway. The lamps themselves are thought to be from the 2oth century, and the parrots from the late 19th century.

Black Forest terrier stand with a tray full of jewelry

This old world terrier stand with a tray full of Apfel's iconic jewelry is sure to bring a smile.
This old-world terrier stand with a tray full of Apfel’s iconic jewelry is sure to bring a smile.

Christie’s

It’s just like Apfel to take a 19th-century carving of a standing terrier that was originally conceived as an umbrella stand, put her signature glasses on his face and a pewter tray in his paws, and then fill it full of her iconic bangles and necklaces.

Polychrome painted dog bed

Just imagine the dandy dog who gets to lie in this 19th Century Italian dog bed, upholstered and fashioned with a grapevine trellis.
Just imagine the dandy dog that gets to lie in this 19th-century Italian dog bed, upholstered and fashioned with a grapevine trellis.

Christie’s

What pampered pooch could resist this fancy 19th-century Italian dog bed, upholstered and fashioned with a grapevine trellis?

Suite of three velvet upholstered chairs

This whimsically designed seating is upholstered with “cut and voided polychrome velvet.”

Christie’s

Bet you’ve never seen a set like this before. Leave it to Apfel to find amusingly designed seating. The upholstery is called “cut and voided polychrome velvet.”

Carolina Herrera tricolor silk shirtdress

Apfel's bright silk shirt dress is an example of her love for mixing bright colors.
Apfel’s bright silk shirtdress is an example of her love for mixing bright colors.

Christie’s

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Even if this pink, red, and yellow sashed dress with floral-shaped rhinestone button closures down the center isn’t your size, imagine how great it would look on a mannequin.

And the beauty of it is that as one of the more expensive ensembles included in the collection, it comes with a cream dress coat, embroidered with pink and green flowers on one side, and rhinestone buttons. The outfit perfectly embodies the Apfel saying “Color can raise the dead.”

Mixed group of turquoise-colored jewelry

This collection of turquoise-colored cuffs, bracelets and chunky necklaces could go for a bargain bid.
This collection of turquoise-colored cuffs, bracelets, and chunky necklaces could go for a bargain bid.

Christie’s

Now we get into the screaming deal part of the auction. Here we have a generous and diverse group of bangles, cuffs, and necklaces in resin, Lucite, silvered metal, blue hard stone, and more, from names like Alexis Bittar, Jianhui London, and Rara Avis, among others.

Group of handbags and wallets from various designers

Nine gorgeous handbags are included in this lot.
Nine gorgeous handbags are included in this lot.

Christie’s

These pieces would make a killer display. The description promises “two unlabeled cigar box top handle bags, one with New York City quilted and beaded front, the other lined in leopard fabric, a Bobbie Jerome red patent handbag painted by Alicja Pulit, an Ibu clutch with embroidered portrait of a woman, a coated orange and elephant print Estro di Firenze clutch, a multicolor Duro Olowu clutch, a multicolor Carlos Falchi tropical print clutch, an Ikat K.C. Malhan clutch and an unlabeled black and multicolor circular evening bag.”

18 multicolor eyeglass frames

Noted for her bold and beautiful eyewear, these 18 pairs are from Apfel's 100th birthday eyewear line for Zenni.
Noted for her bold and beautiful eyewear, these 18 pairs are from Apfel’s 100th birthday eyewear line for Zenni.

Christie’s

Apfel collaborated with Zenni Optical to celebrate her 100th birthday with a line of original eyeglass frames inspired by her unique style and signature bespectacled look.

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