This month, Sotheby’s is auctioning a dress formerly owned and worn by Princess Diana. Christina Prescott-Walker, the global director of regional art and objects at Sotheby's, says, “To feature this gown in our inaugural, curated auction ‘The One,’ which places it in dialogue with many other best-in-class objects spanning millennia of human history, is a testament to Diana’s irrepressible spirit."
The aubergine strapless evening gown features a tulip-shaped stiffened skirt and three paste buttons down the back. Though initially designed as part of Victor Edelstein’s Autumn 1989 collection, a media release from Sotheby’s says, “Edelstein included the outline of a tiara in his sketch—perhaps suggesting he specifically had Diana in mind for the dress.”
The Princess of Wales first wore the gown for her royal portrait in 1991. It was also one of the selections for her iconic 1997 Vanity Fair portraits taken by Mario Testino, which were the last ones taken of her before she died. Mario Testino says on his website, "Photographing Diana, Princess of Wales for Vanity Fair in 1997 was one of the most memorable days of my career."
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In 1997, the gown was auctioned by Christie’s for $24,150—along with 80 other dresses from Princess Diana’s personal collection—to benefit the AIDS Crisis Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund. In her interview with Vanity Fair, Diana said, "Of course it is a wrench to let go of these beautiful dresses. However, I am extremely happy that others can now share the joy that I had wearing them."
Princess Diana was known for her philanthropic spirit, and this dress will be forever immortalized at one of her favorite charity organizations. According to a media release from Sotheby’s, “In 1991, British portraitist Douglas Hardinge Anderson depicted Princess Diana wearing the ball dress in a painting now hung at the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund, which she visited, supported through philanthropy and served as president for.”
The gown was also featured on Franklin Mint’s 1998 limited-edition Princess Diana doll, as part of a collection of 1,000 dolls wearing her most iconic dresses.
The dress will be displayed alongside Sotheby’s Masters Week exhibitions starting January 21, 2023 and will be auctioned live on January 27 in New York. You can find out details about the gown as well as bidding details on Sotheby’s website.
