The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE

• Auction of The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford on May 7, 2025 Surpasses High Estimate

• Furniture, Decorations, Artwork, Jewelry, Books and Memorabilia from Her Manhattan Apartment Captivated Collectors

• Author of Forty Best-Selling Novels, Including A Woman of Substance
  
  

NEW YORK, NY -- DOYLE’s auction of The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE on May 7, 2025 drew international interest and spirited bidding that drove the sale total over the high estimate. The landmark single-owner sale offered an intimate glimpse into the life of the best-selling author and style icon through her elegant furnishings, fine and decorative art, jewelry, books, and personal memorabilia.

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE (1933–2024) was one of the most successful and beloved storytellers of our time, known for her sweeping family sagas and heroines of strength and resilience. Her global readership and influence in literature and design were reflected in the refined aesthetic of her Manhattan home, from which this extraordinary collection was drawn.

“Barbara Taylor Bradford’s life was one of remarkable achievement, elegance, and creative brilliance, and the success of this auction is a testament to the deep admiration she inspired worldwide,” said Vicki Downey, Co-Trustee, The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust. "We are delighted that her personal collection has resonated so strongly with collectors and admirers. It is heartening to see these pieces, each with its own story, now passing into the hands of those who value her legacy and the inspiration she shared.”

Top Lots
Leading the sale was a Verdura Swan Clip-Brooch, a bespoke jewel commissioned by Barbara’s husband, the Hollywood film and television producer Robert Bradford, to celebrate the publication of her novel Cavendon Hall. Featuring a baroque pearl, diamonds, emerald, enamel, and sapphire, the meaningful piece achieved $14,080. A sentimental favorite of Barbara’s, the swan held personal significance, appearing in her coat of arms and literary works.

A gracious hostess, Barbara was known for her lively and glamorous dinner parties. Her extensive silver flatware and porcelain dinner services were among the top lots at the sale, underscoring collector demand for elegant, storied tableware. An International Sterling Silver “Fontaine” Pattern Flatware Service, comprising approximately 270 pieces, realized $9,600, and a Herend Porcelain "Rothschild Bird" Pattern Dinner Service, numbering 144 pieces, sold for $8,320. As an author and storyteller, Barbara was likely drawn to the charming story behind the ‘Rothschild Bird’ pattern. Introduced in 1860 for the prominent Rothschild family, the pattern was inspired by a story of Baroness Rothschild of Vienna who lost her pearl necklace in her garden. Several days later, the necklace was discovered by her gardener, who saw birds dangling it from a tree.

Works from Barbara’s collection of art also performed strongly. American artist Haddon Hubbard "Sunny" Sundblom’s (1899-1976) view of an Afternoon by the Stream realized $8,320; French artist Victor Alfred Paul Vignon’s depiction of a Town View realized $5,440; and Georges Charpentier’s (French b. 1937) bronze of a Dancer achieved $4,800, all surpassing expectations.

A Life of Substance and Style
Barbara Taylor Bradford’s life and legacy were defined by fierce intellect, impeccable taste, and unyielding ambition. From her early days as a pioneering journalist in Yorkshire and London to her global success as the author of A Woman of Substance and 39 other novels, Bradford's story resonated with generations of readers. Her collection at DOYLE celebrated this extraordinary journey and offered collectors the opportunity to own a piece of it.

DOYLE is honored to have been entrusted with presenting this remarkable collection. For collectors and fans alike, the auction served as a tribute to a literary legend whose influence extended far beyond the page.

Vicki Downey added, "On behalf of The Trust, I would like to thank the global community of bidders. For those who were successful, it is meaningful to know these cherished items will now begin their next chapter, celebrating Barbara’s life and work in new homes around the world.”

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE (1933–2024)
A trailblazer in both journalism and literature, Barbara Taylor Bradford’s journey from a Yorkshire newsroom to international literary acclaim is a testament to her determination, talent, and formidable work ethic. Born in Leeds, England, she began her career at 15 as a typist at the Yorkshire Evening Post, quickly rising to become the paper’s first Woman’s Page Editor at 18. After moving to London at 20, she became a prominent Fleet Street journalist, covering everything from fashion to crime, before transitioning to a syndicated column, Designing Woman, which ran in over 180 newspapers across the United States. Her passion for aesthetics also led her to author several interior design books, including The Complete Encyclopedia of Homemaking Ideas (1968) and Easy Steps to Successful Decorating (1971). Yet, it was fiction that would make her a household name.

In 1979, she published A Woman of Substance, a sweeping saga of ambition and resilience that remains one of the top ten bestselling works of fiction of all time, with over 30 million copies sold. The novel’s heroine, Emma Harte, mirrored Bradford’s own strength and independence—qualities that defined her throughout her career.

Often described as a storyteller of substance, Barbara Taylor Bradford wrote 40 novels, selling over 92 million copies worldwide, and many of her works were adapted into successful television miniseries by her Hollywood movie producer husband Robert Bradford. Her ability to craft compelling narratives of powerful women cemented her status as the “queen of family sagas” and the “grand dame of blockbusters.”

Bradford’s contributions to literature and journalism earned her numerous accolades, including the Lifetime Platinum Bestseller Award from HarperCollins and an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to literature. She was also the first Ambassador for Women in Journalism and received honorary doctorates from five universities.

A lifelong devotee of the arts, Bradford’s connection to the creative world extended beyond her novels. Married for 55 years to her beloved Bob, she remained immersed in storytelling across mediums. Together, they brought ten of her books to the screen, sharing their love of powerful, compelling stories with audiences worldwide.

Even as she made New York her home, Bradford never lost her Yorkshire grit or her unwavering belief in perseverance. “I’ve always had a backbone of steel,” she once said—a sentiment that resonated in both her life and her legendary works. Her collection at DOYLE reflects a life of elegance, intellect, and artistry, offering a glimpse into the world of one of the most successful and glamorous writers of our time.