Kennedy Furnishings — Antique and Vintage — Sell High

The furnishings of the Palm Beach, Florida, house once owned by the Kennedy family were auctioned on January 23, 2016. The house was built in 1923 by the Wanamaker family, sold to Joe Kennedy in 1933, and used until the Kennedys sold the house and furnishings in 1995 to Mr. and Mrs. John Castle. During John F. Kennedy’s presidency (1961 – 1963) the estate was known as the Winter White House. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers sold the decorative furnishings for higher than expected prices because of their historic value. Some items had been part of the house from 21 to as long as 93 years. A set of William and Mary style tables estimated at $500 to $700 brought $10,625, and an Italian painted hall bench estimated at $3,000 to $5,000 went for $9,375. Both were in the 1923 house. A pair of Venetian glass mirrors estimated at $2,000 to $4,000, perhaps in the house since 1933, was $38,750. The walnut twin beds used at various times by Joe Jr., Jack or Jackie sold for $20,000. A 1963 photograph of President Kennedy with his wife and children at Easter was $6,350. You too can follow the century-old tradition of keeping good furniture in the family, very unlike the modern decorating style of “buy everything modern and new.” Buy good quality and pass it on to the family.