Last week Bonhams USA held a fascinating four-day auction dedicated to the life and legacy of actress Diane Keaton. Diane Keaton (1946 – 2025) was one of the most celebrated actors of her generation, winning an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and a BAFTA.
This sale explored facets of Keaton’s life and style, with auctions dedicated to; ‘The Architecture of an Icon’, ‘Tailored and Timeless’, ‘At Home With Diane’ and ‘Chapters in an Edited Life’. While each day had its own focus, the overall sale gave a portrait of not only a movie star, but an artist in the truest sense.
Black and white visuals, Californian aesthetic, and Americana were all central themes, alongside key pieces from her career.
Keaton clearly possessed an unmistakeable sense of style, beyond that of her instantly recognisable wardrobe. The collection demonstrated how her distinctive aesthetic was applied in property development, interior design, and as a collector. The auction included photographic works produced by Keaton herself, highlighting her talents as an artist.
Unsurprisingly, the highest price paid over the four days was for Diane’s ‘Annie Hall’ script. The iconic, era defining movie, was written, directed and starred Woody Allen. Yet, it arguably remains Keaton’s most celebrated role and the one most closely associated with her.
Keaton was regarded as Allen’s muse. The pair had been in a relationship in the 1960s, and the script is believed to loosely reflect that period in their lives. ‘Keaton’ was the stage name she adopted, taken from her mother’s maiden name. The film’s title was reflective of her birth name; ‘Diane Hall’, with friends also calling her ‘Annie’. Her characters wardrobe was directly inspired by Diane’s unique personal style.
Given this background the script was estimated at a very conservative $2,000 – $3,000. Scripts can be difficult to estimate and prices usually lower than that for principal movie props. However, this was not the case here. The unassuming cover was captioned ‘Untitled Film Script’ and dated 1976, it ultimately sold for a staggering $394,200 including buyer’s premium.
Although Oscar statuettes typically can never be sold, the rule does not apply to Academy Award’s certificates of nomination. Keaton won the Best Actress Oscar in 1978 for her role in ‘Annie Hall’. Her certificate of nomination for the performance was offered on the final day during the online only sale. This time estimated at $500 – 700, it realised $9,600 (inc. BP).
Diane’s close relationship with fellow actors provided an interesting element to the sale. Unexpectedly, art produced by legendary actor Jack Nicholson was on offer. Keaton and Nicholson worked on two films together, and clearly formed a bond. A still life watercolour depicting a bouquet of flowers in a vase was included. Painted by Nicholson in 2003, it was guided at $200 – 300. With strong interest the virtual gavel fell at just over $11,500 (inc. BP).
Letters from fellow actors and friends provided an insight into her working relationships and all generated significant interest. The highest price paid was for three letters from Steve Martin, selling for just over $10,000. Whilst letters from Michael Douglas and Meryl Streep (offered as separate lots) sold for identical prices of $5,120.
Keaton built a personal collection of important photography. Yet the sale highlighted Keaton’s own skill behind the camera. One of my favourite lots, was a series of photographs taken by Diane in Trafalgar Square, London during the 1980s. Shot whilst on a break from shooting ‘Reds’ (1983) the set of eight images captures people feeding the pigeons. They sold for just over $1,000 each, totalling $9,600.
Keaton also experimented with photo booths to manufacture unusual compositions. Amongst these was lot 4031, a collection of five strips featuring self-portraits with a pair of sneakers. Taken during the 1970s and offered at just $200 – 300, the lot had fierce online demand, ultimately achieving a hammer price of $11,000 (just over $14,000 including buyer’s premium).
Keaton created collage art throughout her life, an approach that seemed to shape her eye for design. One lot reflected both her artistic practice and film career. Lot 4097 comprised four collage artworks, believed to be stylised poster designs for the movie ‘Reds’. Inspired by the Russian Constructivist movement – central to the era in which the film was set – and more dynamic than the final release poster, they sold for a collective price of $6,400.
Her fascination with art and design, was further evident in the large number of carefully curated coffee table art and design books available. These were offered in lots, arranged as they had been displayed in her home, organised by colour and theme.
Lot 3185, was a stylised collection of art books displayed on a stand, including volumes gifted to Keaton by her friend Larry McMurtry. McMurtry (1936 – 2021), was a Pulitzer Prize winning author, known for his notable works including ‘The Last Picture Show’ and ‘Terms of Endearment’, both widely recognised through their acclaimed film adaptations. He gifted Keaton more than 500 artbooks, reflected in the collection here. The combination of provenance and presentation contributed to a final selling price of $5,888. Meanwhile, Diane’s presentation copy of McMurtry’s novel ‘Lonesome Dove’ estimated at $600 – 800, reached $8,320 (inc. BP).
Keaton’s aesthetic echoed the subjects of Larry McMurtry’s stories, with Americana, California, and the old West all strong themes. Diane was born in California, loved her home state, and had a great respect for the Spanish Colonial design tradition of the region.
Her collection of furniture included over 35 lots of ‘Monterey Furniture’, a collective name given to describe pieces predominantly produced by Mason Manufacturing of California, between the 1920s to 1940s. Characterised by their use of iron and wood, a restrained palette with a vernacular aesthetic, they were clearly a favourite. Amongst the standout results, was lot 3141, a tile inset buffet sideboard which she used in the bedroom of her Beverley Hills home. Guided at $500 – 700, the piece sold for a hammer price of $11,000. Similarly, a pair of club chairs, estimated at $700 – 900, reached $12,000.
Textiles were also a visually striking part of the sale. In a similar vein, Keaton collected textiles produced by Diné (Navajo) weavers, of cultural importance within the United States. Seventeen lots were created by these craftspeople. Lot 3217 was a Diné woven ‘Crystal’ rug, in natural sheep’s wool colours, it sold for $12,160.
Another example, lot 3173, was woven with a depiction of the Shiprock monadnock, a stunning feature of the New Mexico landscape, significant to the Navajo. Four lots included in the sale were Diné woven depictions of Shiprock. This piece featured in Keaton’s 2017 book ‘The House That Pinterest Built’. It was the most affordable of the four, selling for $7,040.
Finally, to Keaton’s wardrobe – clothes were clearly important to the star. She was notable for her strong tailoring, hats and willingness to wear clothing traditionally associated with men’s fashion. During the sale dedicated to her ‘Tailored & Timeless’ collection, luxury pieces from Thom Browne, Prada, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Ralph Lauren and Comme des Garçons were all offered.
The joint highest price paid here, was for a custom made wide brimmed hat, catalogued as having been worn on multiple occasions. Produced by California based hatmaker Nick Fouquet, the stylish piece of headwear achieved $20,480 (inc. BP).
However, it was lot 1, a Ralph Lauren ensemble, sold together with a Nick Fouquet hat which achieved the top price for clothing. Conceived in 2018, Keaton wore the outfit to the Academy Awards in 2020, where she presented the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Obviously a favourite, she wore it again on the cover of her 2024 book ‘Fashion First’. When the gavel fell here the total reached $40,960.
With black and white always her signature, Keaton would no doubt have approved of the ‘white glove’ moniker for the sale – with over 700 lots sold during the four days, the final total was $4.2 million.
