03/11/2025 Jewelry, General
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle is honored to auction property from the Collection of Joanne duPont Foster. A true connoisseur of the arts and a discerning collector, she exuded kindness and grace, with a larger-than-life presence, a distinctive sense of fashion, and a personality to match.
Mrs. duPont Foster divided her time between her elegant Fifth Avenue apartment in New York, the grand duPont estate of ‘Virieux’ in Montchanin, Delaware, and a home on Grace Avenue in Aiken, South Carolina, in the heart of horse country. She loved history and was fascinated by the cultures she encountered during her extensive travels around the globe. Her journeys regularly took her across Europe, as well as to Asia, exploring India, Cambodia, Thailand and China, and to Egypt and Kenya in Africa.
Featured in the Asian Works of Art auction on March 18-19, Mrs. duPont Foster's collection of panoramic China Trade paintings stands as both elegant works of art and valuable historical documents from a great period of international maritime commerce. Compared to modern day views of the same shorelines often depicted in China Trade works —Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, and Canton (Guangzhou)— those 19th century panoramas free of towers, glass, steel and tarmac look relatively rural. What belies the otherwise verdant and quaint nature of the settlements, though, is the bustling activity seen within the harbor. Here, steam and sail-powered trade vessels are seen anchored among ferries, fishing boats, junks and sampans. The waters teem with activity. Under the pleasant blue skies common within this genre, these harbor scenes are irresistibly cheerful and evoke a period not long past when the trans-oceanic shipping industry brought with it an invaluable cultural and artistic exchange between South China and the western world (View Lots).
Joanne duPont Foster had a deep passion for opera and was an active member of the Metropolitan Opera Club, where she delighted in the grand productions designed by Franco Zeffirelli for the Met. Her generosity also extended to the visual arts, supporting distinguished institutions like the Brandywine Museum of Fine Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania; the Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. An avid art collector, Mrs. duPont Foster was also devoted patron and friend to many artists. Her collection included works by such prominent contemporary artists as Kenneth Noland, HelenFrankenthaler, Paul Jenkins and Anthony Caro.
A sports enthusiast, Mrs. duPont Foster played tennis during her college years and continued to follow matches worldwide. She also competed at a professional level in croquet and was a dedicated fan of steeplechase and other equestrian pursuits. In addition, she was a member of the Greenville Country Club in Montchanin and the Green Boundary Club in Aiken.
Known for her individual taste, Mrs. duPont Foster favored couture pieces by renowned Italian and French designers, often working with her personal designer to create bespoke garments. She was deeply involved in the creative process, selecting fabrics, buttons, and unique, vibrant designs that reflected her personal style. Her fashion choices were always a celebration of individuality, with stunning jewelry by Buccellati, Bulgari, Verdura, Seaman Schepps and David Webb complimenting each ensemble. Her elegance and unique style were captured in the pages of Town & Country, Vogue and The New York Post, where she was photographed at glamorous galas and events. Personal notes from designers like Adolfo and Oscar de la Renta, as well as sketches from Seaman Schepps, offer a glimpse into the thoughtfulness and creativity behind her fashion and jewelry collection.
Asian Works of Art. Auction March 18-19 | Sale Info | View Lots
Fine Jewelry & Luxury Handbags | Auction December 11 | Sale Info | View Lots
Important Jewelry | Auction December 12 | Sale Info | View Lots
