A Bette Davis Collection of Small Decorative Items, Circa 1930s-1980s. Sixteen items total including: 1) a tiny framed print of a still life; 2) a tiny framed print of an owl; 3) a tiny framed print of a fly (all prints variously numbered and signed in pencil by the artist in the lower right corner "Gendía;" 4) a small cloth mouse dressed as a British royal guard; 5) a porcelain box with a figurine of a Dalmatian dog on the lid; 6) a porcelain figurine of a deer, bottom stamped in part "Goebel / W Germany;" 7) a porcelain figurine of a leopard, signed on the back "Basil Matthews;" 8) a metal bell; 9) a porcelain heart-shaped box, bottom reads in part "Handcast / Made in U.K.;" 10) a metal matchbook cover featuring handpainted images of houses on either side; 11) a small wooden box reading "This 'N That / Bette Davis" [title of the star's 1987 memoir] which she had made to give to friends and associates; 12) a pair of cloisonné opera glasses (very damaged now with missing parts); 13) a pillbox with large faux gemstones on either end; 14) a small wooden figurine of a whale with the initials "BD" on the front which she had made to give to friends and associates to commemorate her 1987 film, "The Whales of August;" 15) a miniature enamel box with an image of an owl on the lid, bottom reads in part "Bilston / and / Battersea / Enamels / Made in England;" 16) a wooden egg painted purple with text on the front reading "Easter / at the / White House / 1988" which Ronald Reagan himself gave to the star; all on display in various homes where the star lived over the years; included with a signed 'letter of provenance' from Kathryn Sermak, Davis' longtime personal assistant.

Kathryn Sermak relays this story:
"The various little items: the mouse was given to her and resided on her book shelf. The wooden box engraved 'Bette Davis This N That' was a Xmas gift that year for all her friends, as her book was just published. The BD wooden whale was a the Xmas gift given when 'Whales of August' came out that year. The gem pill box she carried in her purse. The silver medal bell was after the stroke she had to hire cooks. It was always on the lazy Susan so she would ring it if she needed them. She did not like them hovering over her."

Auction Info

Auction Dates

April, 2018

15th Sunday

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