Discover the Bold and Eclectic World of Iris Apfel at Christie's Auction!

When Iris Apfel passed away last year, she left behind a vivid legacy, colored by her interior design practice and unparalleled personal style. Among her treasures is a diverse collection comprising fashion pieces, paintings, sculptures, and furniture that reflect her bold aesthetic. She famously stated, “Color can raise the dead.”

This month, Apfel's eclectic collection will be auctioned at Christie’s in the event titled “Unapologetically Iris: The Collection of Iris Apfel.” This auction features over 200 items, including couture garments, decorative art from her homes in New York and Palm Beach, and statement jewelry. Bidding runs from January 28 to February 13.

Iris Apfel x H&M, Two Ruffled “Flounced” Short Jackets. Photo: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.

Born in 1921 in Queens, New York, Apfel developed her distinctive taste from childhood trips to antique stores and her education in art history at New York University. In 1950, she co-founded Old World Weavers, a textile company that specialized in reproducing historical fabrics and secured commissions with the White House. Her sourcing trips fueled her passion for collecting vibrantly colored accessories and unique fashion pieces, leading to her iconic maximalist style—complete with large glasses, bold lips, and stacks of bangles. Her Instagram bio succinctly encapsulates her philosophy: “More is more and less is a bore.”

Selections from her collection were previously showcased at the Costume Institute's 2005 exhibition “Rara Avis.” The current auction offers fashion items spanning from the 1950s to now, featuring highlights like a Dior Haute Couture Feather Coat (estimate: $800–$1,200) and a Carolina Herrera Tri-Color Block Shirt Gown (estimate: $800–$1,200).

Apfel’s unique taste is also evident in her art and design objects, including paintings of dogs and apes, and a portrait of Margarita Teresa of Spain (estimate: $1,500–$2,000).

A Case of 18 Eyeglass Frames. Photo: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.

The collection includes varied furniture pieces such as a Chinese carved folding screen ($2,000–$3,000) and a Victorian brass bird cage with a beaded parrot model ($800–$1,200). The star lot is a carved ostrich sculpture that opens to reveal a bar space (estimate: $6,000–$8,000), which was once a centerpiece in Apfel's New York apartment, humorously sold with a Kermit the Frog plush.

A Carved Ostrich-Form Bar “Gussy.” Photo: Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.

Highlights from Apfel’s collection will be exhibited in Florida at Christie’s Miami on January 24–25, and at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach on January 29–31. The entire collection will be on display at Christie’s New York from February 8–13.