Lina Lecaro
Judith Krantz is iconic, especially to Gen-X and Boomer women. The author of steamy romance novels like Scruples and Princess Daisy in the ’70s taught us about love, sex, power and seduction in the same way that Judy Blume introduced us to puberty and growing up in general. Of course, as teens we had to hide Krantz’s paperbacks from our folks, but that changed a few years later when her novels became TV mini-series’ starring big names like Lindsay Wagner (the Bionic Woman!).
A glamorous take on the popular Harlequin-style love stories of the era, Krantz’s books offered strong female characters alongside erotica-lite sexual interludes, predating what Sex and the City packaged on cable TV and what 50 Shades of Gray took to another level in print in recent years. Krantz’s aforementioned books were New York Times best-sellers and they made her one of the highest paid novelists of the era. After 10 books with over 80 million in print in over 50 languages, the LA-based writer deserves reconsideration and reverence as a ground-breaker.
She passed away in June 2019 and now, almost two years later, her belongings are being auctioned online, available to the public beginning April 8. Hosted by Los Angeles’ Abell Auction Co. the sale event offers art (Fritz the Cat makes a couple of appearances), furniture, and collectibles that have thus far, been housed at Krantz’s Bel Air mansion. Here, we offer a glimpse of the unique haul.
As stated on Abell’s auction page: “highlighted items include an ink wash painting by Reuven Rubin ($1,800-2,500); Charles & Ray Eames lounge chair and ottoman ($1,000-1,500); Marc Chagall lithograph ($800-1,200); Judith Krantz “Good Housekeeping” Magazine pages ($50-75); Judith Krantz decoupage assembly ($300-400); and much more.”
For specific info on items shown go to www.abell.com.
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