Hollywood icon and incandescent star of one of the most beloved films of all time, Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) captured hearts and minds with her fiery, luminous performance as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind in 1939. Her legendary status in the pantheon of all-time greats was assured when she secured what perhaps remains to this day the most coveted role in cinema history. Our perception of such legends is often imperceptibly entwined with the myths they come to embody. This September, a spotlight will reveal Vivien’s private side when Sotheby's London brings to auction ‘The Vivien Leigh Collection’.
Passed down through Vivien’s family, the collection comprises paintings, jewellery, couture, books from her private library, Hollywood memorabilia, furniture, objets d'art and further items celebrating all aspects of her life, from the pre-war years in London, to Hollywood and beyond, up to her death in 1967. Myriad pieces drawn from the city and country homes Vivien shared with her husband Laurence Olivier will give a new perspective on Vivien, from her appreciation of art and patronage of Modern British artists, to her passion for books and fondness for entertaining and interior design.
The Auction
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions in London
Auction in London
26 September 2017 at 10:30am
Exhibition on View
Friday 22 September | 9am-4.30pm
Saturday 23 September | 12noon-5pm
Sunday 24 September | 12noon-5pm
Monday 25 September | 9am-4.30pm
Late Night View
22 September
Enjoy an evening at Sotheby’s London with DJ, guided tours and a pay bar. RSVP
Sunday at Sotheby’s
24 September
A day of talks celebrating Vivien Leigh. RSVP
The Iconic Image of Vivien Leigh: Private vs Public - Kendra Bean, author, historian and editor of the hugely successful vivandlarry.com,in conversation with Sotheby’s David Macdonald.
On Stage with Vivien Leigh - Trader Faulkner, actor, who played Sebastian opposite Vivien’s Viola in Twelfth Night (1955), in conversation with Sotheby’s Frances Christie.
More Editorial
Vivien Leigh: An Icon of Style
A Shared Passion for Painting: Vivien Leigh and Winston Churchill
Vivien: The Vivien Leigh Collection – 10 Under £1,000
Vivien Leigh: An Icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age
A Wedding Gift – From Katharine Hepburn to Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh and Her Beloved Cats