NY. One of Princess Diana of Wales’ favorite dresses, which she was photographed in in Vanity Fair magazine shortly before her death in 1997, fetched just over $600,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York this Friday.
The garment prompted intense bidding and eventually exceeded all expectations as it had an estimated price of between $80,000 and $120,000.
#AuctionUpdate: Sold! Princess Diana’s iconic ball gown by Victor Gemstone fetches over $604,000 after fierce bidding rounds – almost $500,000 above its high estimate #SothebysNewYork auction room. pic.twitter.com/ilSJYV4uTQ
— Sotheby’s (@Sotheby’s) January 27, 2023
In the end, the winner paid a hammer price of $480,000, which, with fees and taxes, brings the final total to $604,800.
The dress is an “Infanta” style aubergine velvet-silk evening dress with a voluminous tulip-shaped skirt, designed by Victor Gem, who was Lady Diana’s couturier for almost a decade.
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Princess Diana photographed by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace for VANITY FAIR magazine in 1997. pic.twitter.com/qpknFBIiP2
—Joan Darc (@joandarcdoll) March 3, 2021
Ahead of the auction, Christina Prescott-Walker, global director of art and objects at Sotheby’s, told EFE that the dress was chosen for Diana’s wardrobe because it “embodies” her elegance and was “forever immortalized” in a royal portrait that alongside King Charles was painted by Lord Snowdon in 1991.
It was also the dress she wore to a photo session with the acclaimed Mario Testino for Vanity Fair in 1997, which was later part of an auction of her personal collection of 80 dresses to support the fight against AIDS, one of the causes he fought on most pursued was passionate about it
12 photos Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997 after a spectacular accident in Paris.The dress was sold as part of a broad auction called The One, which included items representative of human history, from antiques to a $3.68 million LeBron James jersey to a ticket for President John F. Kennedy of 1962 for which $94,500 was paid.
Last week, Sotheby’s in London auctioned another well-known piece worn by Princess Diana, the Attallah cross, which was bought by American businesswoman and model Kim Kardashian for nearly $200,000.