Lucinda Riley Family donate money from private collection auction to charity 8 Jan 2024 News Norfolk News Suffolk News

At the end of 2023 we were delighted to offer for auction the Private Collection from the late world-renowned author, Lucinda Riley. This outstanding collection showed her unique collection of fashion, couture and accessories along with some signed books with all monies raised at the auction being donated to United World Schools (UWS) who work to ensure children have access to quality education in remote and marginalised communities by collaborating with communities and governments to build schools and train teachers. We were delighted that the family were able to donate £81,518 to this very worthy charity.

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, she wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold fifty million copies worldwide. The Seven Sisters series, based allegorically on the myths and legends of The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades star cluster, has become a global phenomenon, creating its own literary genre with plans to create a TV adaptation. Unfortunately, Lucinda was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 and died on June 11th 2021, surrounded by her family.

This wonderful private collection from one of the world’s most successful contemporary authors really showcased her sense of style and included some beautiful couture fashion items, jewellery and accessories and really showed the sense of style that Lucinda Riley had and the collection showed pieces from renowned designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Alexander McQueen to name but a few!

There was a real buzz about the auction on the day, so many people loved not only Lucinda herself, but her work as well, so the auction attracted an audience from far and wide. Not only did the auction have a number of fashion and accessories from world designers the auction also featured a number of pieces of fine jewellery and wristwatches from designers such as Chanel, Hermes and Patek Phillippe.

There were many stand out lots from the auction but the lot which took the crown of the highest hammer price on the day was a beautiful Cartier 18 carat white gold and diamond love bangle that had twelve panels each set with thirteen diamonds interspersed by twelve screw heads, no. DTC232. It was housed in its original inner and outer boxes with booklet and travel pouch. It sold for £11,500 (including buyer’s premium). Other notable lots were also from the fine jewellery maker Cartier by way of a platinum and diamond ring that had a central 1.08 carat emerald cut diamond and was housed in original inner and outer boxes with travel pouch that sold for £5,750 (including buyer’s premium) a Chanel forest green bouclé wool coat with bronze metallic trim and simulated amethyst buttons that sold for £1,250 (including buyers premium) and a Chanel Coco blue leather tote bag that had a quilted body with Gilt CC emblem that sold for £3,750 (including buyer’s premium).

Oliver Miller, Managing Director, said: “it was a fantastic amount to raise for such a great charity, the lots were reflective on Lucinda’s taste. It was a pleasure to be able to present to the family £81,518 which has all been donated to the United World Schools charity.”

There will be further opportunities to purchase other items from this private collection as this auction was only some of the pieces went under the hammer this time around. The remaining items will be sold at auction in April.

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