Julien’s Auctions proudly presents Property from the Estate of Luise Rainer, the “Golden Era” Hollywood star known as the “New Garbo.”

Luise Rainer is the meteoric star of eight MGM Studios movies during the 1930s, and the celebrated winner of two consecutive Academy Awards. The items in her collection feature an array of fine European antiques, Old Master and Contemporary fine art, career memorabilia, furniture, and personal effects from her longtime home in London’s trendy Eaton Square.

Luise Rainer was the first actress to win back-to-back Academy Awards, the first in 1936 for her performance as Anna Held in The Great Ziegfeld and the second in 1937 for her performance as O-Lan in The Good Earth. Her historic rise in Hollywood is what film legends are made of. After a rocky relationship with Hollywood, this German born American/Viennese actress spent her time between Switzerland and England, and finally settled in England in the 1990s following her second husband’s death.

Aside from her acting talents, Rainer had a very discerning eye for traditional European antiques and built an impressive collection of 17th and 18th century Continental case pieces over the decades. Featured in this sale are examples of fine cabinetry from her native Germany, including a Maria Theresia Austrian armoire cabinet, a German walnut Wellenschrank armoire, an 18th century German walnut secretary bookcase, a German fall-front bureau, and a German marquetry games box. Other antique highlights include Dutch marquetry pieces, including an 18th century commode, and side table. British antiques from the same era include a George III Secretary Cabinet with a hidden compartment, a William and Mary cabinet with multiple drawers, and a William and Mary oyster veneered mirror.

Contemporary fine art highlights include a stunning portrait of Rainer originally painted for the cover of Paris Match magazine in 1949 by Dmitrie Berea, a number of works by Rainer’s personal friend Reuvin Rublin, including Olive Grove, three works by Domenico Gnoli, a Renee Sintenis bronze Foal, and a Josef Herman oil.

This auction also features memorabilia and photographs from Rainer’s storied career, including a solid 14K gold 1936 Motion Picture Critics of America medal, a George Hurrell black and white photograph portrait and personal effects such as clothing and shoes, sterling monogrammed dresser sets, and a series of black and white photographs of Rainer with her good friend Albert Einstein.

Join us as we celebrate the life and legend of Luise Rainer, the “New Garbo” of Hollywood’s Golden Era. This incredible collection hits the auction block on October 1st, 2015 from Julien’s Auction’s gallery located in the prestigious Beverly Hills, California.

All of these fascinating pieces of history and so much more are included in this magnificent coffee table-style book. The catalogue showcases the life and career of Luise Rainer, the iconic starlet from Hollywood’s Golden Era.

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