Golden Era "sartorial god" Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s hats up for sale

[Marc Chevalier]

Fun to look at. Some are outstanding, others less so.


http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=11DF01+++357+&refno=++824620

http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=11DF01+++358+&refno=++824622

http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=11DF01+++359+&refno=++824623

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Note that Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was a true-blue anglophile when it came to dress, so he was more of a trilby, homburg and derby hat man.

 

[Sam Craig]

Some nice looking hats there.
I suppose it would be in the worst of taste to ask them what the sizes are ... Just in case you wanted to actually WEAR a famous hat.

Sam

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I suppose it would be in the worst of taste to ask them what the sizes are ...

Not at all. Best to give the auction house a call. They tend to be helpful with questions ... after all, they want your bid.

 

[alanfgag]

Very interesting... thanks for sharing that link!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Sure thing!

 

[Brad Bowers]

Wow, if I'm reading it correctly, they are only estimating to get $200-300 for each lot. It casts and interesting light on FLounge hat collectors. If a professional auction house thinks hats aren't very valuable as collectibles, even from an iconic actor, then why the deuce are some people paying $200-300 for a Stetson Whippet from nobody in particular? lol We are an incestuous niche market that has overly inflated values for our hats, methinks. To the rest of the world, they're worth peanuts.

Brad

 

[The Good]

I've just got the feeling that someone will buy these, and if it doesn't fit them (no size is indicated), they'll sell it later. I'm not sure if it's all that profitable though.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Wow, if I'm reading it correctly, they are only estimating to get $200-300 for each lot.

I reckon that this auction house, like a host of others, purposely undervalues some of its estimates in order to attract more bidders to the table.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

(no size is indicated)

Yeah, but it's easy enough for them to call the auction house and ask for measurements. Really serious bidders do things like that.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Some nice looking hats there.
I suppose it would be in the worst of taste to ask them what the sizes are ... Just in case you wanted to actually WEAR a famous hat.

Sam

*^%# 'em.


I was gauche' and wrote them a one word e-mail reading: Size?


I once worked at Christie's Auction House in NYC.

They will sell anything they think they can make $$$ on.

I would have no more compunction about asking that question than I would the guy at the flea market.

They are hucksters... honest hucksters but hucksters all the same.

Doyle isn't even top tier, not on a level with Christie's or Sotheby's, more "second level" like Swann, IMO.

 

[Tomasso]

I reckon that this auction house, like a host of others, purposely undervalues some of its estimates in order to attract more bidders to the table.

Absolutley and it looks great on their resume when they consistently outperform the estimates. It's a win-win for them.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Doyle isn't even top tier, not on a level with Christie's or Sotheby's, more "second level" like Swann, IMO.

Luckily, Douglas Fairbanks' clothes are top tier. It's good for bidders that the clothes aren't being sold by Christie's or Sotheby's, which would probably attract more competition and higher winning bids.

 

[HatsEnough]

Interesting auction,. thanks for the link.

Unfortunately, I saw one hat that sortta struck my fancy. The rest I would be wholly uninterested in as they do not fit my style at all.

Neat that some have the boxes, too. It would be cool if you are a film buff, or a short brim buff (or both, of course).

 

[Rick Blaine]

Absolutley and it looks great on their resume when they consistently outperform the estimates. It's a win-win for them.

Agreed. I would guess somewhere in the neighborhood of two to three grand, given the provenance. Now if they were Sr.'s hats... whole 'nother ballgame.

Anyone else care to prognosticate a final price? Not including the 20% "buyer's fee" the house will collect.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Now if they were Sr.'s hats... whole 'nother ballgame.

Not really. In 2003, Debbie Reynolds sold at auction a pristine 1920 suit custom made for Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. by "Alexander & Oviatt". It only fetched $1,006.

http://p2.la-img.com/207/393/184682_1_l.jpg


From the auction results list:

"Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Personally Owned & Worn Suit - A tan, red, and black plaid wool 2-piece suit, owned and worn by Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. on his honeymoon with Mary Pickford in the Orient (Some sources said they went to Europe) in 1920. Designed by Alexander and Oviatt of Los Angeles (company tag sewn within pocket). Sold for: $1,006.00."

 

[Rick Blaine]

Not really. In 2003, Debbie Reynolds sold at auction a pristine 1920 suit custom made for Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. by "Alexander & Oviatt". It only fetched $1,006.

http://p2.la-img.com/207/393/184682_1_l.jpg


From the auction results list:

"Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Personally Owned & Worn Suit - A tan, red, and black plaid wool 2-piece suit, owned and worn by Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. on his honeymoon with Mary Pickford in the Orient (Some sources said they went to Europe) in 1920. Designed by Alexander and Oviatt of Los Angeles (company tag sewn within pocket). Sold for: $1,006.00."

How sad. I remember hearing of that auction, here in the provinces.
Still & all, if these turn for less than 1,000 USD I will eat my hat!
As I recall Sr. had quite a grapefruit atop his shoulders. Curious
to see what Jr. measured. [huh]

 

[pinkplaint]

thanks for sharing that link!

 

[mayserwegener]

I received this info the day before the auction (yesterday) but I didn't bid.

Group of Lock & Co. Hats
Comprising a black felt homburg with shield-form DF monogram; olive drab felt fedora with stamped gilt DF monogram; olive heathered felt Tyrolean hat with stamped gilt DF monogram; dark gray felt fedora with stamped gilt DF monogram; olive corduroy hat with stamped gilt DEF monogram; and a brown and ivory houndstooth tweed cap with shield-form DF monogram; each labeled Lock & Co. Hatters, St. James's Street, London; and a gray felt fedora with paper label Lock & Co. Hatters, St. James's Street, London; Together with a Lock & Co. Hat Box. Of rectangular form with a paper label addressed to Douglas Fairbanks, Esq. and a customs form, dated 1977.
Estimate:$200-300

Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

CONDITION:
Size: approximately 7 1/8
Measures 6 3/8 inches side to side and 8 7/8 inches from front to back.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Well, the auction happened yesterday.


Here are some winning bid price results:

http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=15&ps=25

http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=16&ps=25

http://www.doylenewyork.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=17&ps=25