Perhaps no time of year offers more pleasure or promise than summer — dining alfresco, languid days on the patio, travel to intriguing destinations. To celebrate these precious months of fun and freedom, we’re highlighting eight lots from our May No-Reserve Auction that have us revved up for the season to start.
Not only do these picks include everything from warm-weather fashion to iconic furniture, but they’re also offered with no reserve, meaning that a bid as low as the starting price could potentially be a winner. So, if you’ve never raised that virtual paddle before, this just might be your moment!
Christian Dior Terry-Cloth Hoodie
A streetwear take on the classic terry-cloth cover up, this navy-and-white hoodie from Christian Dior is the perfect piece to have on hand while you’re at the beach in Tulum, strolling around St. Tropez or headed to the spa at the Royal Hawaiian.
Sporty, modern and chic, it also makes a great to-and-from-the-gym jacket when you’re not traveling or an over-the-shoulders sweater when hot summer days turn into chilly evenings.
Aphrodite Statue
If you haven’t already, now’s the time to spruce up your outdoor space. And who better to preside over your garden or pool than the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite?
Her followers paid tribute to her each year in high summer with the festival known as the Aphrodisia. Although mythology insists she was made of sea-foam, this reproduction of a first-century statue of the deity is composed of compressed marble powder and cast from molds at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, in Turkey, where the original lives.
Gianni Pareschi for Busnelli Fiocco Chair
This sculptural Gianni Pareschi Fiocco chair brings the neon brights of summer indoors. The 1970s piece sticks its hot-pink tongue out at convention and is fabulous for lounging in air-conditioned comfort.
Pareschi’s design is so iconic, the Museum of Modern Art has a version in its permanent collection.
Miu Miu Shoulder Bag
Let’s be honest: Most travel-friendly bags aren’t exactly fashion-forward, which is why this three-section purse by Miu Miu is such a find.
Its red, silver and black cutouts pack just enough of an ’80s vibe to make it edgy, while its removable crossbody strap and inside zippered pocket offer practicality for a long day of sightseeing or a night on the town.
Alessandro Pianon for Vistosi Pendant
Want to add a little unexpected pizazz to your beach house? Take things up a notch with this mid-century top hat pendant light designed for Vistosi by Italian glass artist Alessandro Pianon, perhaps best-known for his whimsical bird sculptures.
Made of lavender-hued Murano glass, the lamp casts a subtly sexy glow, and its fiery murrina accent recalls the sultry summer sun.
Staffordshire Porcelain Tea Set
This 19th-century Staffordshire tea set is tailor-made for an afternoon on the veranda. In addition to a pot and six teacups, it includes a creamer, biscuit box and serving bowl.
Staffordshire porcelain has its roots in the 1700s, when the English county of Staffordshire was filled with potteries producing ceramics made from the area’s rich natural resources. Imagine tea sandwiches and pastel-tinted macarons against the background of this set’s delicate pink-and-orange floral pattern, with the aroma of Earl Grey emanating from its glorious teapot.
Gem Plaza Rainbow Sapphire Necklace
Whether you’re wearing a crisp white T-shirt or a strapless dress for an evening out, this rainbow sapphire necklace is sure to complement your ensemble (not to mention your existing jewelry).
The 18-karat-rose-gold stunner is lightweight, making it a one-and-done essential for those day-to-night vacation transitions.
Xavier Pauchard for Tolix Set of 4 Chairs
Between the ice cream, the sand and the sunscreen, summer can be messy, which is why these steel chairs from Tolix are so perfect for a patio or pool house.
If they look familiar, that might be because the design is nearly a century old — the chairs were created in 1927 by Frenchman Xavier Pauchard. Seen here in a brilliant cabana-stripe blue, these classics not only resist rust but are stackable, so you can easily store them away when you’re not hosting an epic pool party.
