Auction November 5, 2025
Lots 161 – 288

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The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Auction of Property from the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 10am
Allegorial Maiolica Figures by Andres Spadini Achieved a Record $57,600
Artwork, Furniture, Decorations, Memorabilia, Books and More from the Legendary Actor's Collection
Featured Section of the November 5 Stage & Screen Auction

NEW YORK, NY -- Following Doyle's landmark 2011 auction of property from the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Doyle was honored to work with the Fairbanks family for a second and final offering on November 5, 2025 of artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia from the legendary actor's collection. Featured was property formerly from his stately townhouse in The Boltons, London; his Palm Beach home, The Vicarage, on the Intracoastal Waterway; and his elegant Park Avenue apartment.

Highlighting the collection was a group of eight Italian white-glazed maiolica allegorical figures by Andrea Spadini (1912-1983) that achieved $57,600—an auction record for the artist’s ceramics. The intricate figures represent some of the world’s great rivers, including the Ganges, Mississippi, Nile, Congo, Tiber and Amazon. Spadini’s work is celebrated for its imaginative style and playful Baroque flourishes. The son of the painter Armando Spadini, he was strongly influenced by Bernini’s dynamic approach to sculpture. In the 1950s, he began a collaboration with Tiffany & Co., and in 1965, he created the whimsical bronze dancing animals for the Delacorte Clock at the Central Park Children's Zoo, which continue to delight visitors of all ages.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Born into Hollywood royalty – his father was the swashbuckling actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and his stepmother was "America’s Sweetheart" Mary Pickford – Douglas, Jr. entered the film world at the young age of 13 and starred in such films as Morning Glory, Prisoner of Zenda and Gunga Din.

After the onset of World War II, Fairbanks was appointed by President Roosevelt as special envoy to South America, in which capacity he gathered intelligence about Germany’s activity there. Later, as part of an officer exchange program directed by Lord Louis Mountbatten, he trained with the Royal Navy, with a stint at the Commando Training School at Ancharry Castle, Scotland. Mountbatten had been friendly with Douglas Jr.’s father, and had requested his assignment to the program. The two men remained life long friends — a friendship that would ultimately extend to the entire Royal family.

In 1943, Fairbanks returned home. Using the knowledge he had gained with the Royal Navy, under the command of U.S. Admiral Kent Hewitt he was instrumental in establishing the Beach Jumper program, which specialized in the art of naval deception and misinformation. Following the War, he was the first director of C.A.R.E., which assisted in providing much needed food and supplies to a war-torn Europe.

Fairbanks spent his later years acting in stage, film and television productions, traveling often to his beloved England and his Vicarage in Palm Beach, and enjoying the company of the myriad close friends he made during his long and well-lived life.

Stage & Screen
Property from the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was offered as a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction, celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance. Read More