Fleur Cowles’s Flair for Living Is on Display at Christie’s Inline

  • Portrait of Fleur Cowles Ren Gruau .
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    Photo: © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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    Portrait of Fleur Cowles, René Gruau (French, 1909-2004)

    Oil on canvas, 28 ¾ x 23 ¾ in (73 x 60.4 cm).

    Estimate: £10,000-15,000. This lot is offered in Christie’s Interiors on 23 November 2016 at Christie’s in London, South Kensington.

  • Fleur Cowles in 1945
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    Photo: REX
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    Fleur Cowles in 1945

    “I can only say that everything good that happened to me in the past occurred because I was a woman, not despite it,” Cowles told The New York Times in 1976.

  • The editor at work circa 1955.
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    Photo: Getty Images
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    The editor at work, circa 1955

  • With her fourth husband Tom Montague Meyer 1955.
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    Photo: Alamy
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    With her fourth husband, Tom Montague Meyer, 1955

  • Cowles study
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    Photo: © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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    Cowles’ study

  • Lot 566
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    Photo: © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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    Lot 566

    l Vertès (Hungarian/French, 1895-1961).

    Fête champêtre signed, inscribed and dated 'Vertès/1947/Noel' (upper right) oil on panel, three-fold wooden screen.

    Each panel, 78 ¼ x 36 in. (198.8 x 91.5 cm.).

    Estimate: £1,500 - 2,500.

  • Lot 519
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    Photo: © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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    Lot 519

    A set of four yellow painted caned bergeres of Louis XVI style, early 20th century.

    $1,300-$1,800.

  • Image may contain Clothing and Apparel
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    Photo: © Christie’s Images Limited 2016
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    A detail of Cowles’s wardrobe

    Sent as one of President Eisenhower’s representatives to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Cowles is said to have quipped: “The Coronation has made me aware of the importance of hats.”