Furniture, decorations, and show memorabilia from the personal collection of late Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim go up for auction via Doyle June 18 in New York City. The auction is being held at Doyle's NYC exhibition space on the Upper East Side, but bids will also be accepted online and via telephone.
The vast majority of the collection is household items once owned by the Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd composer-lyricist, including a large collection of antique games he had collected. But there are several mementos from his incredible career, including several collections of show posters (including one with a rare window card from a Parisian production of West Side Story), a mirror gifted to Sondheim to commemorate the London premiere of Follies, two caricatures of the Broadway writer from the pen of Clive Francis (one featuring Elaine Stritch), Sondheim's collection of books on Sunday in the Park With George subject Georges Seurat, his personal score to Gypsy (plus a copy of the published edition inscribed by composer Jule Styne), a group of rhyming dictionaries and thesauruses (notably and sadly sans Clement Wood's The Complete Rhyming Dictionary, reportedly his favorite), figurines of the logo caricatures used for the original production of Sweeney Todd, and lots, lots more.
Find the full collection here. Much of the show-related memorabilia seems to be in the "Books and Manuscripts" category.
The live auction is set to begin at 10 AM ET. The collection was on display at Doyle's Manhattan showroom on East 87th Street June 14–17.
Sondheim, who passed away in 2021, was a true Broadway legend, credited by many with changing the face of musical theatre. He started his career penning lyrics to West Side Story and Gypsy, next moving on to a string of scores as a composer and lyricist, including Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, Passion, and Assassins. Over his career, he won seven Tony Awards and received an eighth for lifetime achievement; eight Grammys; an Academy Award; and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Three-dimensional caricatures of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett
Three-dimensional caricatures of Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Large portrait of Stephen Sondheim after the Al Hirschfeld Original
Caricatures of various Sondheim musicals
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Gilt metal belt and fox belt buckle
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Artwork from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Carnival ball toss game
Fabergé enameled silver-gilt and wood covered box
American Twenty-Five Cent 'Fruit and Bar' Slot Machine
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
A group of Stephen Sondheim's casual clothing
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Three-dimensional caricatures of Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Brass model of a locomotive made of musical instrument parts
Brass model of a locomotive made of musical instrument parts
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Stephen Sondheim's book collection of George Seurat art monographs
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Company poster
Four designs for Into the Woods
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Group of photographs, pins and ephemera
Group of photographs, pins and ephemera
Large portrait of Stephen Sondheim after the Al Hirschfeld Original
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
A collection of books on playing cards and other games
Twelve works on playing cards and games
Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Three-dimensional caricature of Mrs. Lovett
Three-dimensional caricature of Sweeney Todd
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
A handmade ceramic chess set with pieces based on characters from Sondheim musicals
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Game book from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
Items from Doyle's "The Collection of Stephen Sondheim" Auction
