Sydell Miller knew beauty—in more ways than one. Often heralded as a beauty mogul (she did, after all, introduce eyelashes as a salon service, and invented the concept of a day spa), Miller and her husband, Arnold, created Matrix Essentials, one of the largest salon product brands in the country. She also spent a significant portion of her life as a philanthropist, and major collector of art, design, and fashion. Now, Miller’s collections are at the center of several auctions at Sotheby’s this fall, the first since her passing earlier this year.
In November, approximately 90 works of fine art were presented in two white-glove sales. All of the lots were sold, and the auctions achieved a combined total of $216 million — well above the high estimates. Among the notable pieces sold were Monet’s Nymphéas (circa 1914-17), which went for $65.5 million, and Kandinsky’s Weisses Oval (White Oval) (1921), which reached $21.6 million. Among the design pieces, François-Xavier Lalanne’s “Troupeau d’Éléphants dans les Arbres” started a 10-minute bidding war between four bidders, ultimately selling for $11.6 million.
François-Xavier Lalanne’s “Troupeau d’Eléphants dans les Arbres” table.
For those still wanting to get in on the action, there’s good news: a number of her object d’art pieces will be available in a dedicated online auction which kicks off this week. Meanwhile, her jewelry pieces will be featured in the Magnificent Jewels and Fine Jewels auctions in December, as part of The Luxury Sales series.
A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit Cleveland Clinic Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Sydell L. Miller Elephant Care & Visitor Center at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as a tribute to the late mogul’s commitment to philanthropy. Click here for more information.