A Life of Style and Giving: The Estate of Joanna Carson at John Moran Auctioneers
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A Life of Style and Giving: The Estate of Joanna Carson at John Moran Auctioneers
Los Angeles, CA February 11, 2026
John Moran Auctioneers announces with distinction the upcoming sale of The Estate of Joanna Carson, a landmark auction presenting more than 400 exceptional lots from the collection of the noted arts patron and philanthropic leader.
The sale will take place on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, at 10:00 AM PDT, offering collectors a refined selection of fine art, important jewelry, decorative objects, silver, porcelain, couture fashion, and luxury handbags.
Press Information
John Moran Auctioneers
Jennifer Kurtz, Head of Sale
📞 626.628.9341
For questions and comments:
Brenda Smith brenda@johnmoran.com
Nathan Martinez nathan@johnmoran.com
The Collection
This highly anticipated auction brings together works by major artists including Claude Lalanne, Reg Butler, Max Ernst, Rufino Tamayo, and Jean Cocteau.
Decorative arts highlights include:
A Puiforcat “Royal” flatware service
Sedlacek Co. sterling silver plates
An extensive Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica porcelain collection
The sale further features important jewelry by Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and David Webb, alongside an elegant selection of couture clothing and handbags from houses including:
Chanel, Gianni Versace, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Oscar de la Renta, Fendi, Chloé, Louis Vuitton, and more.
Joanna Carson: A Life Beyond Celebrity
Joanna Carson born Johanna Ulrich and raised in New York lived a life defined far more by generosity than by public recognition.
In 1960, she married professional backgammon player Tim Holland, and the couple welcomed a son, Joe, during their six-year marriage. Following their divorce, Joanna supported herself as a prominent fashion model, rising to become one of New York’s leading figures in the industry.
In 1971, she met Johnny Carson, host of The Tonight Show, at the famed 21 Club. The couple married the following year.
Yet beyond her public image, Joanna devoted more than fifty years to philanthropic work. She helped establish the Women’s Rape Treatment Center, supported organizations serving children with disabilities through her longtime involvement with SHARE (Share Happily and Reap Endlessly), and worked closely with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Her efforts reportedly helped direct nearly $200 million to programs and organizations she cared deeply about.
While many remember Joanna for her high-profile marriage and divorce, those who knew her best recall a gracious and kind woman who used that chapter of her life to fuel a lifetime of giving.
Proceeds from The Estate of Joanna Carson will benefit:
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
The David Geffen Foundation
The Cher Foundation
Ensuring that her legacy of generosity continues for generations to come.
Fine Art Highlights
Among the leading works is Lot 225, Claude Lalanne’s Pomme Bouche (1980), a gilt bronze sculpture estimated at $30,000–50,000, exemplifying the playful elegance that made Lalanne a beloved figure in postwar French art and design. Working alongside her husband François-Xavier Lalanne as part of Les Lalanne, she became known for blending sculpture, furniture, and jewelry into expressive, nature-inspired forms.
Another standout is Lot 298, Reg Butler’s Musée Imaginaire, valued at $30,000–50,000. This rare Edition 1 of 9 comprises 39 patinated bronze figures housed in a custom wood and mirror-backed display case. The work reflects Butler’s early-1960s shift toward more intimate, contemplative sculpture inspired by André Malraux’s concept of the “imaginary museum.”
Surrealist sculpture is represented by Lot 291, Max Ernst’s Janus, a verdigris-patinated bronze estimated at $30,000–50,000. Produced in an edition of 20 with multiple patina variations, the work captures Ernst’s fascination with duality and transformation, extending the visual language of his paintings into three dimensions.
Rounding out the section is Lot 254, Rufino Tamayo’s Galaxia (1977), estimated at $10,000–15,000. Created using the innovative mixografía technique Tamayo developed in the 1970s, the work reflects his signature fusion of modernist form and indigenous Mexican influence.
Silver, Porcelain, and Decorative Arts
The sale offers an impressive range of tableware from full porcelain dinner services and sterling flatware to glass goblets and candlesticks by makers including Puiforcat, Royal Copenhagen, Baccarat, Tiffany & Co., Lalique, Richard Ginori, and more.
A key highlight is Lot 199, a late 20th-century Puiforcat sterling silver “Royal” flatware service comprising 151 pieces, estimated at $20,000–30,000.
Also featured is an extensive Royal Copenhagen porcelain collection in the “Flora Danica” pattern spanning Lots 402–420, each piece painted with a botanical specimen and carrying estimates ranging from $400 to $7,000.
Decorative highlights include:
Lot 220 Pair of Zig-Zag–style gilt bronze andirons after Alberto Giacometti, circa 1978 (est. $7,000–9,000)
Lot 221 Pair of wrought-iron figural andirons by Samuel Marx, circa 1940 (est. $4,000–6,000)
Lot 243 Pair of Grand Tour–style patinated bronze Pompeian deer (est. $2,000–4,000)
Lot 245 Louis XV–style bureau plat with gilt-bronze mounts and gilt-stamped white leather top (est. $1,200–1,800)
Jewelry Highlights
Collectors will also take note of the exceptional jewelry selection.
Leading the category is Lot 79, an elegant 1977 Oscar Heyman & Brothers for Cartier necklace crafted in 18K gold and platinum and set with sixty-nine graduated pear-shaped diamonds totaling approximately 24.15 carats, estimated at $20,000–30,000.
Also featured:
Lot 78 Van Cleef & Arpels 18K gold ring with oval turquoise cabochons in a floral motif accented by twenty-four round diamonds totaling approximately 3.60 carats (est. $7,000–10,000)
Lot 29 David Webb butterfly brooch in 18K gold and platinum with textured wings set with round, baguette, and shield-shaped diamonds totaling approximately 7.25 carats (est. $7,000–9,000)
How to Register and Bid
To learn more and register to bid, visit:
Bidding is available online via Moran’s new mobile app Moran Mobile (iOS and Android), as well as by phone or absentee bid.
Upcoming Auctions
John Moran Auctioneers continues its 2026 lineup with:
Native American Art + Design Online: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 | 12:00 pm PT
The Estate of Joanna Carson: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 | 10:00 am PT
Studio Decorative Art Online: Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 | 10:00 am PT
Art + Design: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 | 10:00 am PT
Art of the American West: Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 | 12:00 pm PT
Jewelry & Watches: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 | 10:00 am PT
For highlights, online catalogues, and additional information, visit www.johnmoran.com and follow @johnmoran_auctioneers on social media.
Consignments are always welcome: info@johnmoran.com
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