Past Auction

Special Collections: The Collection of Joseph Cicio

Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10am EDT |

New York

Auction of the Collection of Joseph Cicio on October 14, 2020
Furniture, Decorations & Artwork from His Home in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Prominent Fashion Executive and Author of the 2018 Book, Friends**Bearing Gifts

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle was honored to auction the Collection of Joseph Cicio on October 14, 2020. This exceptional and extensive collection comprised furniture, decorations and artwork from his home in Litchfield county, Connecticut. The collection was assembled over many years by Mr. Cicio through purchases during his travels and by gifts presented to Mr. Cicio by his many friends.

With competitive bidding, the sale totaled $267,213 within the pre-sale estimate of $211,790-330,860 with a strong 86% sold by lot and an exceptional 100% sold by value.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Cicio followed monastic studies at St. Paul's Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, and Western Priory, in Weston, Vermont, and graduated from the New York School of Interior Design in New York. With a keen eye for design and quality, Mr. Cicio pursued a career in fashion and became a successful and influential tastemaker at a number of America’s most prominent retailers. Mr. Cicio has been the Director of Visual Merchandising for the Lord & Taylor branch stores; the Corporate Senior Vice President for Creative Services and Product Development at R.H. Macy's in New York; the Chairman and CEO of I. Magnin in San Francisco, California; the President of Retail Development for Donna Karan, Inc.; the President of Retail Development for Sun International; the CEO of Mayors Jewelry; the CEO for Penhaligon's worldwide; the European Director for Erno Laszlo; and a consultant for numerous fashion and home furnishings brands worldwide.

Friends**Bearing Gifts

A uniquely talented and visionary creative leader in the world of retail, Joseph Cicio's high-profile positions brought him into contact with leading celebrities of the day. He became close friends with figures such as Lady Nancy Slim Keith, Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, The Kissingers, and Joan Rivers, earning him a fascinating insight into the private lives of people who most can only read about and few were privileged to know intimately.

Published in 2018, Friends**Bearing Gifts is about these relationships and the unmatched experience of remembering each one through the beautiful objects they each gave to him. Featuring stunning photography of Cicio's Connecticut home, which has been published several times, and individual essays on each friend and their gifts — the book deeply emphasizes the importance of relationships, and is a reflection on a life filled with friends, objects, and ultimately, exceptional memories.

In acknowledgement of the auction, publishers Pointed Leaf Press has specially priced Friends**Bearing Gifts at 20% off for the month of October. For information on ordering Friends**Bearing Gifts, click here

Included in the auction on October 14 were a number of the special gifts profiled in the book.