Contents of Kennedy Winter White House
Property from the Palm Beach Kennedy Winter White House up for Auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
On January 23, 2016, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is to sell furniture and decorative arts from the famed “Winter White House” in Palm Beach, Florida. This historic collection has been consigned by Mr. and Mrs. John Castle, who purchased the home and much of its contents from the Kennedy family in 1995.
The iconic Palm Beach residence acquired the name “Winter White House” during John F. Kennedy’s presidency as the main vacation home for the President, First Lady Jackie and their children. Having been in the family since the 1930s as the permanent residence of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, the home was a frequent retreat for the President. It was here that John F. Kennedy recovered from back surgery, penned Profiles in Courage, held official presidential meetings and enjoyed intimate family holidays. The Palm Beach residence is even said to have shaped Kennedy for his time served in the South Pacific, predisposing him to tropical weather and life at sea, according to William Doyle, author of PT-109.
The oceanfront estate played host to many important guests. Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield all visited the home, wherein President Kennedy interviewed all of his Cabinet members (with the exception of Robert McNamara and Robert Kennedy). Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford and Arnold Schwarzenegger are also counted among the many distinguished visitors.
The home was initially built and designed for department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker by Palm Beach architect, Addison Mizner, in 1923. A decade later, Mr. Wanamaker sold the home to Mr. Joseph Kennedy, who then commissioned renowned architect Maurice Fatio to build an additional wing onto the home, along with a pool and tennis court.
The Palm Beach residence remained in the Kennedy family for 62 years until it was sold in 1995 to Mr. and Mrs. John Castle, who purchased the home for $4.9 million, along with a large selection of its contents. The renovated 15,000 square foot estate recently sold for $31 million. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will be offering the original contents on the Castle’s behalf, including over 100 lots of fine furniture and decorative arts.
Highlights of the sale include a pair of Venetian style walnut beds where the future president slept along side his brother, Joe Kennedy, Jr., and later Jackie Kennedy, during their Winter White House retreats. Also available will be the walnut framed massage table where John F. Kennedy received therapeutic massages for his back ailments. The Louis XV provincial style mahogany banquet table where the Kennedy family enjoyed many meals will be available. Included in the sale are several lots of furniture by Addison Mizner that were original to the home. One example is an Italian walnut Savonarola chair that became known as Honey Fritz’s chair, a favorite of Mrs. Rose Kennedy’s father.
For additional information, please visit: www.lesliehindman.com/sale/winterwhitehouse/
Auction:
January 23, 2016
1608 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Preview Times:
Friday, January 15, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Saturday, January 16, 2016, 10am – 4pm
Monday, January 18, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Thursday, January 21, 2016, 10am – 5pm
Friday, January 22, 2016, 10am – 3pm
Contact
Kimberly Blomquist
312.280.1212