PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MARION OATES CHARLES
FOUR CHINESE EXPORT NESTING TABLES
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Important information about this lot
Price Realised USD 2,375
Estimate
USD 1,000 - USD 1,500
Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
Christie’s is honored to present property from the collection of Marion Oates Charles, Lots 1 through 97 These works that include European and English furniture, silver, ceramics and fine art as well as jewelry by makers Verdura, Henry Dunay and Seaman Schepps offer a glimpse into the eclectic, but always elegant taste of this American original. Marion Oates Charles, known to most as “Oatsie”, was born on September 29, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. As a young woman, her beauty and quick wit were her trademarks. Though a granddaughter of a Civil War colonel, congressman, and governor, Oatsie broadened her horizons to attend boarding school in pre-war Europe, debut in New York and eventually become one of the most celebrated hostesses in Washington, D.C. In 1942, Oatsie married Thomas Leiter and they moved into an apartment in Washington’s Dupont Circle. She immersed herself in a formidable social set that included politicians, business tycoons, and socialites alike. During the decades she spent in her R Street home, Oatsie counted Katharine Graham, Nancy Reagan, Bill Blass, Truman Capote, and Gore Vidal among her close friends. Perhaps most notably, she socialized with the James Bond series’ author Ian Fleming and is credited with recommending the books to another good friend, then-Senator John F. Kennedy, while he recuperated from back surgery. The subsequent inclusion of Fleming’s novels in a publication of the newly elected President’s reading list projected the James Bond character to national attention and helped launch the Bond franchise that continues today. In 1952, Oatsie and Thomas Leiter purchased the Newport cottage ‘Land’s End’, whose previous owners included novelist Edith Wharton. In 1957, Oatsie sold ‘Land’s End’ to move into its gardener’s cottage ‘The Whim’. In Newport, she devoted herself to philanthropic efforts. Doris Duke, a neighbor and good friend, appointed Oatsie to the Board of Directors of her foundation. Oatsie also served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Newport Restoration Foundation. On December 5, 2018, in her beloved home ‘The Whim’, Oatsie Charles died, leaving an indelible legacy as one of the last great doyennes of American society. She was survived by her daughter, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Related Articles
Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.
You have agreed to be bound by the Conditions of Sale and if your bid is successful, you are legally obliged to pay for the lot you have won. The purchase price for a successful bid will be the sum of your final bid plus a buyer’s premium, any applicable taxes and any artist resale royalty, exclusive of shipping-related expenses.
Condition report
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
28 in. high, 19 in. wide, 111⁄2 in. deep, the largest 271⁄4 in. high, 161⁄4 in. wide, 103⁄4 in. deep 27 in. high, 133⁄4 in. wide, 10 in. deep 261⁄2 in. high, 111⁄4. wide, 91⁄2 in. deep, the smallest
Overall with nicks, marks and scratches consistent with age and use. Considerable wear to the tops of all tables, most noticeable the largest. Losses, rubbing and edge chips. Tables are stable and ready to be placed.
Cost calculator
Lot 27Sale 19085
EARLY 19TH CENTURYFOUR CHINESE EXPORT NESTING TABLESEstimate: USD 1,000 - 1,500
Enter your bid amount for an estimated cost
Bid amount
Please enter numbers onlyAmount must be higher than the starting bidAmount must be higher than the current bid