White Glove Success: The Estate of Joanna CarsonAuction Achieves $1.7 Million at Moran’s

11 mars
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Dernière mise à jour : 19 mars

White Glove Success: The Estate of Joanna Carson

Auction Achieves $1.7 Million at Moran’s

March 10, 2026

John Moran Auctioneers

Jennifer Kurtz, Head of Sale 

j.kurtz@johnmoran.com

Questions and Comments: 626.628.9341

Brenda Smith and Nathan Martinez

brenda@johnmoran.com and nathan@johnmoran.com

White Glove Success: The Estate of Joanna Carson

Auction Achieves $1.7 Million at Moran’s

Tues., March 3 rd , 2026 | 10:00am PDT    

The exceptional results of their recent white glove auction, The Estate of Joanna Carson, a landmark sale presenting more than 400 exceptional lots from the collection of a noted arts patron and philanthropic leader. Held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the carefully curated auction attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally, with thousands of bidders participating and driving the sale to an outstanding 100% sell-through rate with total sales exceeding 1.7 million dollars. The auction featured fresh-to-market works of fine and decorative art, furniture, luxury items, and fine jewelry by celebrated artists and makers, including Claude Lalanne, Max Ernst, Rufino Tamayo, and Diego Rivera, alongside exceptional pieces by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, and Royal Copenhagen.

Leading the fine art category was a gilt bronze work by French surrealist artist Claude Lalanne. Lot 225 was Lalanne’s Pomme Bouche, designed in 1975 and executed circa 1980, which sold for $69,850*. Additional highlights included Lot 291, Max Ernst’s Janus, cast in verdigris-patinated bronze, realizing $50,800*; Lot 254, Rufino Tamayo’s Galaxia, a 1977 mixografía, which brought $22,440*; and Lot 183, titled, Hawaiian Hula Ceremony, was by the Northern California artist Frank Marvin Blasingame. The large oil on canvas (measuring 72 x 48 inches) was one of two known compositions by Blasingame and achieved an impressive winning bid of $20,320*. Selling for $7,620* was Lot 256, Diego Rivera’s drawing Lavandera del Río Juchitán, created circa 1922–28. This work was a study from his sketchbook relating to two oil paintings Rivera painted in 1928: "Lavanderas con zopilotes" and "Woman Washing Clothes in a River Among Buzzards.". [PHOTO 1] [PHOTO 2] [PHOTO 3]

The jewelry offerings attracted strong interest, with competitive bidding for pieces by top makers. Cartier highlights were led by Lot 79, an Oscar Heyman and Brothers for Cartier diamond necklace from 1977, designed in a graceful draping V shape and set with 69 graduated pear-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 22.15 carats, which achieved $53,975*. Pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels also performed exceptionally well, including Lot 59, a gem-set and diamond brooch from 1971 featuring a flowing floral design centered with emerald, ruby, and sapphire cabochons and accented by bursts of graduated round diamonds weighing approximately 10.35 carats, which sold for $47,625*, while Lot 78, a turquoise and diamond ring, brought $26,670*. David Webb’s designs likewise generated steady interest from bidders throughout the sale, led by Lot 117, an 18K gold collar necklace that realized $34,925*, and Lot 29, a diamond butterfly brooch, which sold for $19,800*. [PHOTO 4] [PHOTO 5][PHOTO 6]

Among the decorative pieces, the 19 lots of Royal Copenhagen ‘Flora Danica’ porcelain was most sought after, bringing in a grand total of $135,759*. Lots 402-420 presented 166 pieces from this collection including reticulated dinner plates and platters, soup bowls, teacups and saucers, serving and dinner plates, dessert plates, pickle dishes, salad plates, and more, with estimates ranging from $400-7,000. The top lot, Lot 409, was a set of fourteen Royal Copenhagen porcelain ‘Flora Danica’ dinner plates. Estimated at $4,000–6,000, the set sold for $27,170*. Other tableware highlights include Lot 199, a 151- piece Puiforcat sterling silver ‘Royal’ flatware service, which sold for $31,750*, and Lot 289, a set of twelve Hayes & McFarland sterling silver ‘Harewood’ dinner plates brought in $19,050*. [PHOTO 7]

Collectors also took interest in four lots by Jean Cocteau, the French artist who played a role in Surrealism, Dada, and Cubism. Lots 227-230 featured terracotta chargers and a vase he produced in 1958, achieving an aggregate total of 28,257. Steuben glass paperweightsgarnered noteworthy attention, with two ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree,’ a ‘Mouse & Cheese’, and a ‘Unicorn’ paperweight, together bringing in $24,130. [PHOTO 8]

Joanna Carson was a former model, philanthropist, and Broadway producer known as much for her generosity as her public profile. Born Johanna Ulrich in New York, she was a successful fashion model before marrying The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson in 1972. Over five decades, she devoted herself to philanthropy, helping establish the Women’s Rape Treatment Center, supporting children with disabilities through SHARE, and working with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, ultimately directing nearly $200 million to charitable causes. Proceeds from The Estate of Joanna Carson auction will benefit Cedars Sinai Medical Center, the David Geffen Foundation, and the Cher Foundation, continuing her legacy of giving. [PHOTO9]

To see the full sale results go to www.johnmoran.com.

Includes buyer’s premium.

Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers  