Lena Horne's NYC apartment artifacts to be sold

[February 23, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- The estate of sultry jazz singer and actress Lena Horne is selling some of the fancy gowns, jewelry, fine art and books that filled her New York City apartment.

More than 200 items are for sale at the Doyle New York auction house Wednesday. They include a sequined cardigan evening coat estimated to sell for as little as $100 and an abstract painting by artist Charles Alston expected to bring up to $50,000.

A reversible mink coat by Horne's favorite designer, Giorgio di Sant' Angelo, is estimated to sell for $300 to $500.

Horne's refined taste extended to the furnishings in her Manhattan apartment. A Rococo-style chandelier could bring $2,500.

Horne's signature song was "Stormy Weather." Horne also was a dancer and civil rights activist. She died last May at age 92.

[Associated Press]

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