Past Auction

The Estate of Sheldon Tannen

Wed, Sep 26, 2018 at 10am EDT |
New York
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Former President and Chairman of New York's Legendary '21' Club

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  • Auction of the Estate of Sheldon Tannen on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10am
  • Comprising Lots 122 through 148 in the Doyle at Home Auction
  • Paintings, Furniture, Decorations, Books and Memorabilia from His Home on New York’s Upper East Side

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle was honored to auction property from the Estate of Sheldon Tannen, the former Chairman and President of New York’s legendary ‘21’ Club. Established in 1930 by Sheldon’s uncle Jack Kriendler and cousin Charlie Berns, ‘21’ has for almost ninety years served American cuisine and cocktails to generations of New York society and beyond.

In its early years, during the Prohibition era, ‘21’ was a speakeasy, serving illicit alcohol and Cuban cigars to its well-heeled (and sometimes notorious) patrons. The former “secret” wine cellar is now a popular dining room for private parties. Following the repeal of Prohibition, the ‘21’ Club’s fame grew. Celebrities, European nobility, captains of industry and commerce, and every President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt (except George W. Bush) have dined there. Its famous facade at 21 West 52nd Street is a Manhattan landmark, with its row of cast iron jockeys brightly painted in the racing silk colors of its famed patrons.

In 1947, as a young man, Sheldon joined his uncle at ‘21’ as an apprentice, and over the years became a familiar and beloved figure synonymous with ‘21’ itself. "There was a feeling of welcome to those people who had come across our front door," he said in an interview with Cigar Aficionado in 2015. Recalling the legacy established by his uncle Jack, “Everyone was known by their full name, and they were treated as if they were the chairmen of the board of their domain -- as they were."

Property from the Estate of Sheldon Tannen comprises paintings, furniture, decorations, books and memorabilia from his home on New York’s Upper East Side. It was offered in the Doyle at Home auction on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 10am.  Read More About the Sale

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A Selection of Auction Highlights

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