Bellmans to offer the Estate of the Late Meredith Etherington-Smith (1946-2020)

Meredith Etherington-Smith (1946–2020) was a British fashion and art journalist and biographer, well-known for working with Diana, Princess of Wales, on her charity clothes auction at Christie's in 1997. Bellmans is offering a selection of works of art, furniture and fashion items in the February auction (21-24 February 2023) that reflect her flamboyant and innovative style.

She started her career as a journalist in the 1960s, worked as the London editor for Vogue Paris in the 1970s, and for a year was the only female editor of GQ in the US and Deputy and Features editor at Harpers & Queen in London from 1983. By the early 1990s, however, she had established herself as an art journalist and was the founder of Art Fortnight, edited ArtReview and Artinfo.com. Meredith was editor-in-chief of Christie's Magazine and was not only closely involved with the famous Diana charity auction, but also the 1999 Marilyn Monroe, the 2009 Yves Saint Laurent, the 2011 Elizabeth Taylor and the 2015 Margaret Thatcher auctions.

The auction showcases Etherington-Smith's exquisite taste and highlights include some of her fashion items - among them antique Chinese textiles, handbags, hats and shoes, some of which are antique as well as her collection of books and auction catalogues. The auction will also include some of the furniture, works of art, ceramics, sculptures and pictures from her London home.

Harrison Goldman, Head of Bellmans London, says: "I had the pleasure of meeting Meredith as a student when viewing the London sale of Mrs Thatcher, clearly she was a tour de force, but much loved and passionate character in the arts and fashion scene. It’s a privilege to be entrusted to handle her collection at Bellmans and we hope her legacy will live on through her possessions with new owners.”

The Estate of the Late Meredith Etherington-Smith (1946-2020) will be offered within Bellmans' forthcoming February Auctions in West Sussex and online from Tuesday, 21 February to Friday, 24 February.

The catalogue launches 10 February and viewing in West Sussex is available:

Friday, 17 February | 10am - 4pm
Saturday, 18 February | 9am - 12:30pm
Monday, 20 February | 10am - 4pm
Tuesday, 21 February | 10am - 4pm
Wednesday, 22 February | 10am - 4pm

For further information please contact Harrison Goldman, Bellmans' Auctioneer & Head of Sale, on 020 4548 4738 or email [email protected]

Interior images by kind permission of Strutt & Parker

All estimates are subject to buyers premium at 25% + VAT