Art from Diana's family homes to go on the block

[July 07, 2010]  LONDON (AP) -- Art, antiques and even carriages owned by the aristocratic family of Diana, Princess of Wales, are being put on sale in a three days of auctions beginning Tuesday.

The auctions feature items that once belonged at Althorp House, the Spencer family's country estate in Northhamptonshire, and in Spencer House, their historic London home.

Althorp was where Diana grew up and became the site of her burial following her death in 1997 in a car crash in Paris. The estate is now occupied by Diana's brother, Earl Charles Spencer.

While none of the lots were purchased by Diana, many have been in her family for centuries -- including a painting by Peter Paul Rubens, "Commander Being Armed for Battle," which sold for 9 million pounds ($13.7 million) at Christie's Old Masters sale on Tuesday.

The portrait, which the Spencer family has owned since 1802, was painted in the early 17th century and depicts a bearded man, believed to be the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, being fitted with his armor.

A second painting, "King David" by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, sold for 5.2 million pounds ($7.9 million.)

A sale beginning the next day, the "Althorp Attic Sale," includes important 19th-century carriages owned by the family -- some with harnesses -- as well as saddles, furniture, snuff and cigarette boxes, and military uniforms. A third sale, which starts Thursday, includes works of art and porcelain from Spencer House, which overlooks London's Green Park.

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Online:

Christie's: http://www.christies.com/

[Associated Press]

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