'Largest Princess Diana auction' features frocks, hats and bags
Photo:
VALERIE MACON
From colourful frocks and hats to handbags and shoes, items belonging to the late Princess Diana go under the hammer this month in what Julien's Auctions says is the largest collection of her fashion to go to auction.
The live and online "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" sale will take place on 26 June at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, offering an array of fashion items Diana wore.
"This is the largest Princess Diana auction because we have over 100 items from her amazing life and career...keeping in mind Diana herself...sold over 70 of her dresses...back in 1997 to raise money for her charity," Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, told Reuters on Monday. He was speaking at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge in Ireland during a pre-sale exhibition.
Among the highlights is a 1988 silk floral dress by Bellville Sassoon, dubbed the "caring dress" because Diana wore it several times on hospital visits, with a price estimate of $200,000-$300,000 (NZ$330,000-$495,000).
A cream silk embroidered evening gown Catherine Walker designed for Diana's 1986 Gulf tour has a similar price tag, while a Bruce Oldfield two-piece yellow floral ensemble she wore for Royal Ascot in 1987 is estimated at $100,000-$200,000.
Other sale items include a Dior handbag gifted to her by former French first lady Bernadette Chirac in 1995, a sketch of Diana's 1981 wedding dress with tulle fabric cut-offs from when she married then Prince Charles in 1981 and a peach hat she wore for her honeymoon send-off.
The auction also includes pieces belonging to other British royals including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the queen mother.
Nolan said Julien' Auctions had previously sold a dress belonging to Diana for $1.14 million.
"People do consider these items as an asset class now, because if people own these items today, chances are in years to come they will sell them for more than what they pay for (at) auction," he said.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of Diana's items will go to charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
The pre-sale exhibition in Newbridge will run until 17 June.
-Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Blood, guts and big bucks: Horror is slaying in cinemas
By Dawn Chmielewski , Reuters Sinners, an original story about Mississippi vampires, is the year's third highest-grossing movie in the US and Canada. Photo: Supplied / Warner Bros. Entertainment Vampires, zombies, and the Grim Reaper are killing it at the box office. At a time when superheroes, sequels and reboots have grown stale among audiences, horror has emerged as an unlikely saviour, entertainment industry veterans say. This year, scary movies account for 17 percent of the North American ticket purchases, up from 11 percent in 2024 and 4 percent a decade ago, according to Comscore data compiled exclusively for Reuters. Thanks to the box office performance of Sinners and Final Destination: Bloodlines , and new instalments of popular horror films hitting later this year, including The Conjuring: Last Rites and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 , cinema owners have reason to celebrate. "We have identified horror as really one of the primary film genres that we are targeting to grow," said Brandt Gully, owner of the Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs, Georgia. "It can really fill a void when you need it." Producers, studio executives and theatre owners say horror has historically provided a safe outlet to cope with contemporary anxieties. And there is no lack of material to choose from: the aftershocks of a global pandemic, artificial intelligence paranoia, the loss of control over one's body, and resurgent racism. "It's cathartic, it's emotional, and it comes with an ending," said film data analyst Stephen Follows, author of the Horror Movie Report, which offers detailed insights into the genre. "Horror movies give space to process things that are harder to face in everyday life." The often low-budget productions allow for greater risk-taking than would be possible with high-cost, high-stakes productions like Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning . The creative freedom has attracted such acclaimed directors as Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, Danny Boyle and Guillermo del Toro. "Horror movies are an accountant's dream," said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore senior media analyst. "If you're going to make a science fiction outer space extravaganza, you can't do that on the cheap. With horror films, a modest-budget movie like Weapons can be scary as hell." Audiences are responding. Coogler's Sinners , an original story about Mississippi vampires starring Michael B. Jordan, was the year's third highest-grossing movie in the US and Canada, according to Comscore. Movie theatres are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, which broke the movie-going habit and increased viewing in the home. Mike De Luca, co-chair and Warner Bros Motion Picture Group, which released Sinners , said horror was a genre that manages to get people out of the house. "It's a rising tide that lifts all boats," he said. "You know, we're trying to get people back in the habit of going to the theatres." Fear knows no geographical bounds. Half of all horror movies released by major US distributors last year made 50 percent or more of their worldwide box office gross outside the US, according to London-based researcher Ampere Analysis. The breakout international hit The Substance , for example, grossed over US$77 million worldwide, with around 80 percent of that from outside the US. Streamers are also similarly capitalising on the appeal of the genre. AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama series The Walking Dead became one of the most popular series when it was added to Netflix in 2023, amassing 1.3 billion hours viewed, according to Netflix's Engagement Report. Director Guillermo del Toro's film adaptation of Mary Shelley's gothic novel Frankenstein is set to debut in November. Horror films are ideally suited to watching in movie theatres, where the environment heightens the experience. "What you can't do at home is sit in a dark room with a hundred other people, not on your phone, and jump," said Blumhouse chief executive Jason Blum, producer of Halloween , Paranormal Activity and other lucrative horror franchises. "You can't really be scared when you watch a horror movie at home." Big-budget movies that the industry refers to as "tent poles," such as Captain America: Brave New World or A Minecraft Movie , remain the lifeblood of movie theatres. Over time, these blockbusters have elbowed out more modestly budgeted romantic comedies and dramas on movie screens. Against this backdrop, horror has been quietly gaining momentum. The genre broke the $1 billion box office barrier in the US and Canada for the first time in 2017, Comscore reported, buoyed by the film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, It , and Jordan Peele's exploration of racial inequality in Get Out . Announcements of new horror films from US producers have risen each year for the last three years, including in 2023, when the Hollywood strikes significantly impacted production, according to Ampere Analysis. The number of US horror films that went into production last year was up 21 percent over 2023, Ampere found. "While more arthouse fare and even some tentpole superhero franchises have had mixed fortunes at the global box office in the wake of the pandemic, horror remains one of the key genres that audiences still make a point of seeing in the theatres," wrote researcher Alice Thorpe in a report for Ampere's clients which she shared with Reuters. The researcher's own consumer surveys revealed horror is the favourite genre among two-thirds of movie-goers, ages 18 to 24. "Anytime a teenager graduates to wanting to take a date to the movies, horror gets popular really fast," said Warner Bros' De Luca. "It's a great film-going experience to take a date to because you get to huddle with each other and gasp and hoop and holler." Horror has been a cinematic staple from its earliest days, when Thomas Edison filmed Frankenstein on his motion picture camera, the Kinetograph, in 1910. The British Board of Film Classification introduced the "H" rating in 1932, officially designating the genre. But it didn't always get Hollywood's respect. "In the first half of the 20th century, it was seen as a freak show," said Follows. Perceptions began to change with the critical and commercial success of films like Psycho , The Exorcist, and The Shining. Director Steven Spielberg ushered in the summer blockbuster in 1975 with Jaws , a re-invention of the classic monster movie. In recent years, horror movies have become part of the Oscar conversation. Peele collected an Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2018 for Get Out . Demi Moore received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for her portrayal of an aging Hollywood star who will go to any lengths to stay beautiful in The Substance . Not every horror movie connects with audiences. M3GAN 2.0 , a sequel to the 2022 low-budget film about a killer robotic doll that grossed $180m worldwide, brought in a modest $10.2m in the US and Canada in its opening weekend, according to Comscore. Theatre chains will have no shortage of horror movies to exhibit this summer. Seven films are slated to be released before Labour Day weekend, including Columbia Pictures's nostalgic reboot of the 1997 film, I Know What You Did Last Summer , which reaches screens on 18 July, and Weapons , which opens on 8 August. "The best types of these movies are ones that elicit an audible and visceral reaction, 'Don't go in there!'" said Screen Gems President Ashley Brucks, who has worked on such films as Sony's upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer as well as A Quiet Place and Scream. "You are either squirming or laughing or screaming and just really having fun with it." - Reuters
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Tarantino film actor Michael Madsen dies aged 67
Michael Madsen, pictured during a visit to Italy in 2019. Photo: AFP / NurPhoto Actor Michael Madsen, a stoic actor who worked frequently with director Quentin Tarantino and appeared in various acclaimed films from the 1980s onward, has died, according to his publicist Liz Rodriguez. He was 67. Rodriguez told CNN that Madsen had a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on Thursday morning (US time). "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many," said a joint statement from his managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith of Bohemia Entertainment and Rodriguez. Sgt Christopher Jauregui, watch commander for Los Angeles Sheriff Department Lost Hills Station confirmed to CNN on Thursday that deputies responded to Madsen's home in Malibu and found him "unresponsive." He was pronounced dead at 8:25am local time and no foul play was suspected, Jauregui added. Madsen was a prolific dramatic actor who was best known for his work in several of Tarantino's films, including Reservoir Dogs, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and the Kill Bill films. Known for his stony looks and calm, sometimes menacing demeanor, Madsen could play a menacing villain (see Kill Bill ) as well as a protagonist, as seen in 1995's Species. Having gotten his start in TV in the early '80s - an early role on St Elsewhere in 1983 first put him on the map - Madsen soon transitioned to films, where he made an impression in 1991's Ridley Scott-directed hit Thelma & Louise , in which he played Louise's (Susan Sarandon) put-upon love interest Jimmy. The next year saw his first collaboration with Tarantino in Reservoir Dogs , the uber-violent ensemble piece in which Madsen played Mr Blonde. Thus began a prolific time for the actor - who appeared in primarily action films along with westerns like 1994's Wyatt Earp. While much of Madsen's oeuvre strayed into B-movie territory, he continued to appear in higher profile hits as well, such as Donnie Brasco in 1997, the James Bond film Die Another Day in 2002, and 2005's Sin City. Madsen's knack for demented villains was perfected in his portrayal of Sidewinder in the Kill Bill franchise, one of the foes Uma Thurman's Bride must vanquish before defeating her main nemesis. The films were split into two volumes in 2003 and 2004. Other roles in which he shined include 2004's noir western Renegade and The Hateful Eight , another Tarantino film, from 2015. "You'll make a great film when you least expect it, or don't really anticipate it … I don't have a crystal ball or time machine, I can't know what's going to happen," Madsen told Vulture in 2008. "I just want longevity." Madsen's off-screen life was marked by some legal and personal troubles. Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery misdemeanour after a dispute with his wife DeAnna Madsen, according to Variety and online arrest records. The actor filed for divorce from DeAnna Madsen one month later. In 2019, Madsen was arrested for DUI, his second within 10 years, and in 2012, was arrested following a physical altercation with his then-teenage son. Madsen was open about his struggles, telling the Independent in a 2020 interview that he went through some "terrible, terrible times," including his DUIs and an injury following a motorcycle accident. "Fame is not what it's cracked up to be," he added. "I'm not complaining, because I've had a great life. But it can wreak havoc on you if you're not protected." In 2022, Madsen's son Hudson died by suicide in Hawaii. "I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened," Madsen told the LA Times. With over 320 credits to his name on IMDb, Madsen also had a whopping 18 titles in development at the time of his death. In the statement from his representatives following his death, they said Madsen had been "doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives ." He was, the statement said, "really looking forward to this next chapter in his life." Madsen was also preparing to release a book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. "My career is like a heart monitor," he said in a 1992 interview on the Reservoir Dogs DVD. "I get involved in a good project now and then to keep things going … every movie you make can't be great, no matter who you are." -CNN
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Māori-Greek artist takes a slice of Aotearoa to the Big Apple
Jimmy James Kouratoras has two decades of experience in the film industry as a scenic artist and 12 years as a solo artist. Photo: Supplied They say there's nothing you can't do when you're in New York, which is spot on for a Māori-Greek artist who got to witness his work light up Manhattan. Jimmy James Kouratoras' Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors painting is currently being shown in New York's Theatre District as a part of the Sacred Origins exhibition at Jutta Gallery, and it has featured on a 10-metre high digital billboard. "It was like sending a message from the ancestors straight into the heart of one of the world's busiest cities," he said. It is the artist's first showing in the art capital since 2015, when an older piece was exhibited at the Agora Gallery. Hei Tiki - for the love of our ancestors painting on a digital billboard in Manhattan Photo: supplied Every brushstroke is a salute to his Māori and Greek whakapapa. His new piece brings "heavens, the earth, nature, and the human realm in close quarters with each other" and his tīpuna are portrayed as elements of nature. "As an artist, most of my work happens in solitude, in deep connection with ancestry, whenua, and wairua. So to have that work seen and recognised on an international stage is a privilege." The Waikato-Tainui and Cretan Greek tāne has also been named a finalist in this year's National Contemporary Art Award. Hosted by Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery, the competition had a record 480 entries shortlisted to just 53 artists. The exhibition will run from 1 August to 16 November and the winners will be announced on 31 July. "This acknowledgement isn't just about me - it's about the kaupapa, the stories of our tīpuna, the layers of whakapapa, and the ongoing journey of transformation through art," Kouratoras said. The painting, Hei Tiki - For the Love of Our Ancestors, is currenting showing in New York City. (This image has been rotated) Photo: supplied He never took the usual art school route, but naturally draws from his bloodline to create contemporary artwork that every so often aligns with socio-political topics. "I work through karakia, through intuition. The studio becomes a sacred space here, the invisible mechanics of the universe begin to take shape." As a part of his solo exhibition, Kouratoras' latest creation is dedicated to the sacred rhythms of the Maramataka, or the traditional Māori lunar calendar. Matariki Sacred Waters - Where Land Meets the Sky , accompanied by 14 paintings and seven Pou sculptures, is now showing at Franklin Arts Centre in Pukekohe. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
