The Margaret Thatcher Sale Part III consists of 170 lots, spanning items relating to her time in office, personal possessions, ‘uniform’ jewellery and clothing.
Margaret Thatcher’s rise to the top has been as controversial and divided in opinion as to her popularity has been following her exit from office. It seems that opinion is either strongly in her camp or harshly against her. But despite what your opinion of the leader is, she has, without a doubt, been one of the most influential shapers of our modern world.
Perhaps most importantly, she completely shattered the glass ceiling for women to enter politics and in doing so, brought an end to various stereotypes of women in power. Her election to become the United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister has opened the doors of the house of commons to a countless number of female political powerhouses that followed.
With this year marking the 40th anniversary to Margaret Thatcher’s historic election (1979-1990), it also marks the end to a trilogy of truly remarkable sales of her personal and professional effects.
In an official statement, Christie’s noted that the sales began in 2015 when Part I and Part II attracted a global audience, selling 100% and totalling £4,516,038/ $6,831,487/ €6,189,443.
They further added that Part III will provide further public and private insights into the trajectory of a political titan, presenting unique opportunities, across price levels, for collectors around the world to acquire property from the longest serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 20th century.
Adrian Hume-Sayer, Director, Christie’s Specialist on Private Collections further added: “The market’s response to the historic sales in 2015 – both the online sale and the traditional live auction – was remarkable, with the overall result for The Mrs Thatcher Collection Part I and II far exceeding pre-sale expectations. Clients from all over the world seized the opportunity to acquire items which gave insights into the life of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, who was a political giant on the world stage. In May 2019, Christie’s third and final sale in this trilogy of auctions coincides with the 40th anniversary of Mrs Thatcher’s historic election, offering collectors, admirers and enthusiasts with one last chance to bid for a memento of ‘The Iron Lady’.”
This Margaret Thatcher Sale Part III comprises of 170 lots, spanning items relating to Mrs Thatcher’s time in office, personal possessions, her ‘uniform’ jewellery, clothes and handbags, estimates range from £100 to £18,000.
With such a wide selection of pieces on offer, we have selected a few highlights throughout and grouped them in various categories below.
Margaret Thatcher Sale Highlights
Lot 3 consists of Margaret Thatcher’s ‘House of Commons’ desk blotter, sold with a silver letter opener, with the arms of the Worshipful Company of Grocers; a bound copy of Parliamentary Debates, vol. 1000; a ball-point pen; three note cards and a printed menu, Estimate £800-1,200. The blotter sat on Mrs Thatcher’s desk in her Chester Square study until the end of her life.
Margaret Thatcher’s Jewellery
A hardstone-mounted gold bracelet of vari-shaped cabochons | Estimate: £2,000-3,000 The iconic 18-carat gold and amethyst ring, London import mark, 1968 ring size M½ | Estimate: £1,200-1,800 Cultured pearl and diamond necklace, bracelet and earrings suite, Chaumet | Estimate: GBP 6,000 – GBP 9,000
Margaret Thatcher’s Fashion
Although the sale includes countless fashion items, lot 56 consists of a blue and a gold outfit, both of which were worn on two equally special occasions
The blue outfit was worn to the dinner at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, attended by the Queen and all surviving Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom; Mrs Thatcher wore the gold ensemble to the unveiling of her statue in the House of Commons.
Above, the former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis Thatcher at Number 10 Downing Street for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Dinner attended by all the surviving Prime Ministers of her reign, 29 April 2002
Here the former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher (centre) stands with some of her former cabinet including her successor as leader of the Conservative Party John Major (to the right of Thatcher) in front of a newly unveiled bronze statue of herself, inside the Palace of Westminster, London.
Two evening ensembles by Camilla Milton, early 2000s | Estimate: £1,000-1,500
Personal Effects
A Victorian silver-plated snuffbox with “PM” engraved on the lid | Estimate: £200-300 A diamond-set gilt Cartier pen, 1980s, signed Cartier, numbered, in red Cartier box | Estimate: £300-500 A Library Globe, George Philip & Son, London, 1988 | Estimate: £1,500-2,500 Henry Moore (1898-1986), Head of a Woman soft-ground 1981 | Estimate: £800-1,200 A Vienna porcelain tea-service Last quarter 20th century | Estimate: £1,200-1,800 A pair of George V silver napkin rings, 1925, one engraved ‘Denis 10.5.1915’ and the other ‘Margaret 13.10.1925’, | Estimate: £200-300 Autograph speech notes, prepared for a speech at a dinner given in honour of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan by Lodwrick Cook | Estimate: £700-1,000 A lizard handbag, with goldtone hardware | Estimate: £800-1,200
Perhaps the most poignant of all the times is lot 4, a printed list of the Prime Minister’s Engagements from Mrs Thatcher’s final day in office.
Printed list of Prime Minister’s Engagements from Mrs Thatcher’s final day in office | Estimate: £400-600
This landmark online sale will be open for bidding between 2 and 9 May 2019.
For more information on the sale or to resister click here.
