New York – This fall, Bonhams will present The Sandy Lerner Collection, an exceptional and personal journey of fine art and collectibles, alongside refined home furnishings and interiors from the renowned Ayrshire Farm residence of American businesswoman and philanthropist Sandy Lerner (b.1955). Encompassing nearly 1,000 lots, the collection reflects decades of discerning acquisition and draws upon centuries of artistic expression, bringing together what is believed to be one of the most significant private collections of cat-related decorative arts, books, and collectibles ever assembled. The group will be offered across a series of four auctions, two live and two online, taking place this September and October across New York and Massachusetts.
A pioneering technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sandy Lerner has built a career defined by originality, range, and intellectual Rigour – co-founding Cisco Systems, where she played a critical role in developing the early routing technology that transformed global communication and laid the groundwork for the modern internet. She later reimagined the beauty industry with the founding of Urban Decay, challenging conventional aesthetics with a bold, inclusive vision. A dedicated collector and scholar of feline imagery, Lerner has built an extraordinary collection documenting the collection of over forty years in Caticons: 4,000 Years of Art Imitating Cats (2017). Beyond these pursuits, her work has spanned humane, sustainable agriculture on her estate, Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia, as well as the preservation women's scholarship, including Chawton House in England, for which she was awarded the OBE, underscoring a lifelong commitment to innovation, cultural stewardship, and conservation.
Reflecting on the sale of her collection, Sandy Lerner said: "These are objects I have personally chosen. They each had a place in my home, giving context and beauty as representatives of other lives and other times. They need to be rehomed, now, to others who will care for, cherish, and respect them as icons of the human achievement and – in the case of the caticons – affection that created them. May these beautiful things give you as much joy and wonder as I have found in their company."
The Sandy Lerner Cat Collection Parts I & II
September 2026
New York & Massachusetts
The Sandy Lerner Cat Collection Part I, a live auction taking place in New York at the auction house's new U.S. flagship headquarters, 111 West 57th Street, on September 30, will survey Lerner's extensive cat collection. Featuring 66 artworks, decorative objects, jewellery, and collectibles, the sale spans centuries, artistic movements, and media, bringing together works by celebrated artists, illustrators, and designers.
Of the fine art and design within the live auction, notable pieces include Japanese-French artist Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita's (1886–1968) Chat et Chaton, and Chaton, executed in 1934 and 1926, respectively and both estimated at $30,000 – 50,000; Diego Giacometti's (1902–1985), 'Tête de Chat' circa 1970, estimated at $20,000 – 30,000; and Henri Matisse's (1869–1954), Visages et grenades, executed circa 1952, estimated $10,000- 15,000. Additional artists and designers represented in the sale include Rembrandt Bugatti (1884–1916), Édouard Manet (1832–1883), Theophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859–1923), Fernando Botero (1932–2023), and Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821–1909) among others.
The live auction will also feature an important group of feline-inspired jewellery and objects by renowned houses including Tiffany & Co. and Boucheron. Notable lots include a carved Lavender Jadeite Cats and Diamond Long Chain Necklace, estimated at $14,000 – 18,000; as well as a Tiffany & Co. Pendant-Brooch (Pin) Designed as a Textured Gold Cat Mask, estimated at $8,000 – 12,000.
Further underscoring the collection's scope is a distinguished selection of Asian works of art. Highlights include A Chinese White Jade Cat-Form Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, circa 1730-1850, estimated at $30,000 – 40,000, and an Iron-red and pawprint Spotted Porcelain Cat, estimated at $20,000 – 30,000. Select highlights from this category will be showcased during Bonhams' forthcoming September Asia Week New York preview.
Coinciding with the live auction will be The Sandy Lerner Cat Collection Part II, an online sale running September 22–October 1, in Massachusetts, which will continue to survey Lerner's cat collection, offering further artworks, decorative objects, collectibles and jewellery.
Ayrshire Farm: The Sandy Lerner Collection Parts I & II
October 2026
Massachusetts
Ayrshire Farm: The Sandy Lerner Collection Part I, a live auction taking place in Massachusetts on October 28, will present a distinguished selection of furniture, decorative arts, paintings, lighting, and furnishings from Lerner's celebrated Georgian Revival estate in Upperville, Virginia – one of her most ambitious preservation projects.
Spanning the reigns of Charles II through Elizabeth II, the sale offers collectors an opportunity to acquire pieces from a richly layered interior shaped by centuries of British and European design. Highlights include The Four-in-Hand, Hyde Park by Albert Ludovico (1820–1894), estimated at $40,000 – 60,000; a Mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase, estimated at $15,000 – 25,000; and a Pair of William IV Sterling Silver Wine Coolers, by Edward Barnard & Sons, estimated at $10,000 – 20,000.
Reflecting Lerner's lifelong affection for animals, the sale also features paintings and decorative objects inspired by the natural world. Notable works include Walter Hunt's (1861–1941) Feeding Time, estimated at $25,000 – 35,000, which adorned the second-floor landing, as well as A Pair of Silver-Gilt Swan Jardinieres by C.J. Vander, estimated at $10,000 – 20,000.
Coinciding with the live auction, Ayrshire Farm: The Sandy Lerner Collection Part II will be offered online from October 18–29, presenting additional furnishings, decorative arts, paintings, ceramics, and objects from the celebrated estate.
For more information on the upcoming sales, please visit bonhams.com/Sandy-Lerner-Collection
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.