Highlights from Milhous Collection on Display at Sotheby’s in Manhattan
Select highlights of the upcoming Milhous Collection, to be offered in Florida in association with Sotheby’s Feb. 24-25, will be on display in the Sotheby’s lobby in New York City from Dec. 1 to January 6.
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Seven-Passenger Roi des Belges
On display are two mechanical musical instruments and a 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Seven-Passenger Roi des Belges with coachwork by Aldford & Alder, chassis 1574, a prized early, well documented and award-winning example. The first instrument is a Cremona Style K Orchestrion, made by Chicago’s Marquette Piano Co. in the mid to late ’teens with three ranks of pipes, percussion and more. Very few examples of this rare American-made orchestration are known to exist. The other instrument on display is a Mills Automatic Virtuosa. Fully restored, it benefits from a rare factory-added piano.
The Rolls-Royce is one of several rare European motor cars in the collection. In fact, it is one of two Ghosts, the other being a 1914 Silver Ghost Tourer with coachwork in the style of Joseph Cockshoot & Co. Chassis 2LB, it is an exceptional prewar example that was formerly in the Newman, Lutgert and Magee Collections. Also of interest are a 1933 Delage D8S with two-door coupe coachwork by the English firm Freestone & Webb, as well as a 1939 Lagonda Rapide V-12 with gorgeous Vanden Plas roadster coachwork that was owned new by famed actor Robert Montgomery. The ownership of famous Hollywood personalities is not only limited to this Lagonda, however, as the 1934 Packard Eight Convertible Victoria was not only a Pebble Beach Best of Show winner but was owned new by the actress Marie Dressler. Finally, RM Auctions is delighted to offer a superb 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Sedan (J208), owned new by Dolores Del Rio. [RM Auctions]
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