‘Bunny’ Mellon Estate Sale Brings $218-Million for Charity

An auction of Rachel Lambert Mellon’s vast collection of art, jewelry, furniture, and decorative objects fetched $218-million for a foundation that supports a library at the late Listerine heiress’s Virginia home, writes The New York Times. The Sotheby’s sale was conducted over five days this month, concluding Sunday night, and raised money than double its $100-million estimate.

Ms. Mellon, a philanthropist and horticulturist known as “Bunny,” died in March at the age of 103. Proceeds from the auction of more than 1,500 lots were designated for the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, established by Ms. Mellon in honor of her father. The foundation supports the Oak Spring Garden Library, a collection of artworks, manuscripts, and rare books at Ms. Mellon’s Upperville, Va., estate.