Monday October 5, 2009
Babs’ fab sale
By KEE HUA CHEE
Want to lounge in a wicker chair from Barbra Streisand’s sunroom? Or sleep in one of her comfy caftans? Now you can as the superstar is auctioning the contents of her three houses on Oct 17 and 18 at Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
ONE of the world’s most famous and richest thespians, Barbra Streisand, is known for her many accomplishments as actress, producer, songwriter, composer, director, screenwriter, activist and philanthropist.
She is the best singer of all Hollywood actresses, having performed in Las Vegas to sell-out concerts at MGM Grand. Her New Year Eve’s show in 1999 was the highest grossing single concert in Las Vegas’s history.
As a singer, her record is unmatched by any actress – 50 gold albums, 30 platinum albums, 30 chart-topping singles, four Emmys, nine Grammys and one Legend Grammy. She has sold over 140 million albums worldwide.
Her marriage to actor Elliot Gould (1963-1971) produced Jason Gould who is also an actor. In the 1970s she had a tempestuous but long-term affair with hairdresser-turned-producer Jon Peters. In 1998, she quietly married actor James Brolin.
Rare opportunity: ‘Let someone else enjoy them. These things are not forever,’ says Barbra Streisand, here at her Carolwood home in Beverly Hills, of the belongings she will be auctioning off. Her films are cultural touchstones and include such unforgettable blockbusters like the phenomenal Funny Girl, Hello Dolly, The Owl And The Pussycat, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, What’s Up, Doc?, The Way We Were, Funny Lady, A Star Is Born, Yentl, The Prince Of Tides, The Mirror Has Two Faces and Meet The Fockers.
In 1968, her first film Funny Girl won her an Academy Award and she has been busy picking up accolades ever since as the grand diva of the American entertainment industry.
By no stretch of the imagination could she be called “beautiful” and was renowned for refusing to undergo nose surgery when it was assumed her distinctive nose would be the albatross round her neck.
With no pretty looks, this struggling unknown in the early 1960s was expected to rise no further than a stand-in.
However, uncannily like the characters she played, as she matured and became established and sought after, she developed a rare womanly loveliness.
Seven pairs of dress shoes: Black and white woven Donna Karan heels; brown suede Maud Frizon heels; green suede Beltrami heels; blue fabric Donna Karan heels; green leather Maud Frizon Club heels; black leather Peter Fox heels with suede bows; tan leather Allure heels. Estimate: US$400 – US$600 Many are aware she goes ballistics if you spell her name as “Barbara” as hers has only two A’s.
But few know she holds a vast art collection ranging from masterpieces from the Art Noveau period to Americana to modern works, antique costumes, period jewellery and furniture.
There is an urban legend about one of her most celebrated acquisitions, Adam And Eve, a hypnotic painting by Tamara Lempicka.
In 1965 when she was barely 23 and a struggling actress in New York, she used to walk past an antique and art store whose window displayed the painting by Tamara Lempicka.
Every day she would stop and admire the painting, knowing it was beyond her means.
One day the kind owner came out and begun talking to her as he had noticed her obsession. He asked how much she could afford.
Christian Dior full-length open coat with matching long-sleeve shirt and pants: Streisand wore this jacket to the 1986 Grammy Awards, where she won her eighth Grammy award for The Broadway Album. Estimate: US$1,500 – US$2,000 Embarrassed, she mumbled US$5,000 and that was after she had saved her salary by the end of the year. She looked so wistful that the owner promised if he could not sell it by Christmas, she could have it for that price instead of US$20,000!
Her luck held and by the new year it was hers. Nearly 30 years later, she sold the painting for US$2mil.
By chance she happened to walk past the same shop which had the sign “Going Out Of Business”.
She walked in and saw the old man who sold her the Lempicka painting. She asked how much he needed to stay afloat. Not recognising her, he sighed: “Quarter million.” She wrote him a cheque on the spot.
Today, her homes in Beverly Hills, Malibu and New York are filled to the rafters and she is offloading them.
Julien’s Auctions will offer some 400 items and all proceeds will go to Streisand Foundation, established in 1986 by Barbra Streisand when she made it big.
The Streisand Foundation aids humanitarian causes worldwide so you can buy knowing it is for a good cause and not to fatten her bank account.
The range of goodies is diverse and extremely affordable since this auction is for the general public and not billionaire collectors. She is keeping her choicest works of art though some have been sold by Christie’s.
Gustav Stickley tall-back rocker: Designed by Harvey Ellis, inlaid pewter and copper back under a double horizontal rail, arched seat support, original cane foundation, original finish. Estimate: US$12,000 – US$15,000 So expect the stuff Malaysians would describe as “aunty” rather than naughty or flirty.
Some may even say more makcik than “chic” but we all have different tastes and most of the contemporary stuff were purchased in the 1980s and 1990s and reflect their eras.
There are plenty of affordable stuff, like an oriental rug (estimated US$200), brass letter holder set (estimated US$300), child’s rocker chair (estimated US$200) and an Edison cylinder phonograph (estimated US$400) which she purchased when she was 18.
The first piece of furniture she bought was a dental cabinet which she confessed was hard to part with but she is down-sizing and has no space.
Her fur coats seem a steal from US$400 to US$700. There is a pair of life-sized stand-up posters (estimated US$200) of La Streisand if you are the type who likes to pose next to your dream girl.
Some items really look out of place in a multi-millionaire’s home, like a dreadful green bench (estimated US$200) you would have burned or thrown into the dustbin with the brass magazine container (estimated US$200).
But there are also covetable collectors’ items from her selection of Americana (read that as rustic) furnishings, Art Deco fixtures, Native American baskets and her personal Yamaha Baby Grand Piano.
Since her youth, she was an enthusiastic collector of vintage costume and jewellery and has amassed rooms full of them together with her wardrobe.
Barbra Streisand has never been accused of being a trendsetter nor made it into any best-dressed list but many will bid for her clothes worn from some of her famous movies.
“These include costumes from Funny Lady, On A Clear Day, Yentl, Nuts, Prince Of Tides, The Way We Were and Meet The Fockers,” says famed auctioneer to the stars Darren Julien in an e-mail.
“Also included are stage worn costumes from Barbra’s 1994 Concert Tour and her 2000 Timeless Tour. The gold Dior pantsuit ensemble she wore in 1986 when she won the Grammy is estimated at only US$1,500 and her concert gown from Timeless is US$2,000.
These clothes can be seen in her photos in the Internet so when you buy one, you can download images of her wearing the very outfit!”
“What good do they do in storage?” asks the 67-year-old superstar in the message in her catalogue.
“Let someone else enjoy them. These things are not forever. We pass them on and reap the benefits for something important. The community is better served if I can sell them. Much as I love collecting, I am even more committed to my Streisand Foundation which can do some real good.”
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