‘Bunny’ Mellon Auction Could Fetch $100-Million for Charity

Auction house Sotheby’s estimates that the sale of property from Listerine mouthwash heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon’s estate could reap more than $100-million for a charity that supports a renowned library at her Virginia home, the Associated Press and The New York Times write.

The horticulturalist and philanthropist who, with her late husband, Paul Mellon, donated more than 1,000 works to the National Gallery of Art and funded construction of its East Building, died in March at the age of 103. More than 2,000 items from her estate, including paintings, jewelry, furniture, and decorative objects, will go on the block this fall.

Proceeds from the sales will benefit the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, which Ms. Mellon established in memory of her father. The foundation supports the Oak Spring Garden Library at her home in Upperville, Va., which houses a collection of artworks, manuscripts, and rare books and is visited by scholars from around the world.