Doris Brynner is a defining presence of grace and style within the artistic and high-society circles of the twentieth century. In recognition of her influence across fashion, culture, and the decorative arts, Sotheby’s Paris will present a selling exhibition in late January 2026 that charts the life of a woman for whom taste was instinctive and craftsmanship a constant pursuit. The event coincides with Paris Haute Couture Week, and the presentation offers an intimate portrait of Brynner’s world, thoughtfully curated by her daughter, Victoria Brynner, and shaped by a lifetime of collecting and connoisseurship.
The exhibition will be open from 23 to 26 January, followed by a two-part auction format: a live sale on 27 January and an online session on 28 January. Together, these moments will bring to market an exceptional ensemble of jewellery, couture and objets d’art, each selected for its ability to convey Brynner’s refined eye and personal aesthetic. More than a gathering of beautiful things, the collection reveals the private, creative spirit of a lady who moved effortlessly between artistic, social and cultural spheres, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire collectors, designers and tastemakers around the world.
A Life in Objects, From Jewellery to Contemporary Art
The sale spans more than sixty years of refined collecting drawn from the world of Doris Brynner, bringing together pieces by Bulgari and Boucheron alongside ruby and diamond brooches once owned by Audrey Hepburn and gifted to her by Elizabeth Taylor. A significant jewellery portion is led by creations from Jean Schlumberger, including floral-inspired diamond earrings, a sculptural starfish brooch from the 1960s, and a rare gold and diamond minaudière dating to the 1950s.
Fashion holds an equally important place in the auction, anchored by an ivory evening gown by Cristóbal Balenciaga, famously captured by Inge Morath, and complemented by elegant designs from Christian Dior that reflect Brynner’s long-standing relationship with the great couture houses of Paris. The collection also presents a sketch by John Galliano, a drawing dedicated to Doris by Karl Lagerfeld, and two photographs by Andy Warhol, one depicting her in the company of Audrey Hepburn. Completing the ensemble, a three-branch candelabrum by Claude Lalanne sits alongside contemporary works by Jean-Michel Othoniel and bronze pieces by Peter Marino, each revealing a compelling dialogue between material, form and personal expression.
The Woman Behind Dior Maison
Doris Brynner was shaped not by a single place but by a succession of cultures, each leaving a distinct imprint on her eye and her understanding of beauty. Born in the former Yugoslavia in 1931, she spent her formative years in Chile before settling in France during the 1950s, a trajectory that endowed her with an unusually cosmopolitan sensibility. Her professional life began in front of the camera as a model, before she moved behind the scenes to work with Pierre Cardin soon after her arrival in Paris. It was at Valentino, however, that her natural gift for people and presentation found full expression. As head of special client relations at the couture house, she built a circle of influential figures and played a meaningful role in accelerating the maison’s international reach through her impressive network.
In 1997, Brynner joined Christian Dior to lead its Maison & Gifts department, a position she would hold for more than two decades. Her appointment marked a subtle but decisive evolution in the house’s approach to the domestic world. At 30 Avenue Montaigne, she brought a spirit that was both elegant and playful, reshaping the boutique into a destination where luxury felt intimate and homely. From Limoges porcelain and Murano glass to Theresienthal crystal, embroidered linens, wickerwork and softly scented candles, her selections were united by a sense of refinement that never spilled into excess. Under her leadership, the Dior home became less a retail space and more a salon, where collectors, social figures and industry leaders moved with ease.
In 2012, Doris Brynner was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters for her contribution to art, design and the culture of haute couture living, affirming her lasting influence on the way beauty is brought into everyday life.
A Circle of High Society Friendships
Doris Brynner moved through the cultural life of the twentieth century, building friendships with many of the defining figures of the age. Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor belonged to a close and enduring circle that gathered around Doris for private dinners and late-night conversations, far removed from the public gaze. Sinatra, it is said, even taught her how to make the perfect martini at his Palm Springs retreat. Elizabeth Taylor, who was also godmother to Doris’s daughter Victoria, remained a constant presence throughout her life, a bond later acknowledged in Doris’s appearance in the 2024 documentary Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes.
Her friendships moved just as naturally into the worlds of fashion, cinema and design. Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta, Alain Delon and François Catroux were among those who enjoyed her company and generous spirit. Within Victoria’s private archive, photographs capture scenes that feel almost cinematic: her parents attending the premiere of Cleopatra; her mother backstage as Marie-Chantal of Greece prepares for her wedding; long dinners in the South of France with the Catroux family; or the Niarchos children gathered around a candlelit table.
Alongside these images sit the objects that quietly tell their own stories. Balenciaga invoices, personal gifts and a book inscribed by Jean Schlumberger have survived as traces of a life lived at the centre of an extraordinary cultural moment. Now offered at Sotheby’s, they form a tangible link to an era defined by elegance and friendship.
Final Thought
The exhibition Hommage à Doris Brynner at Sotheby's Paris is one of those events that leaves a definite mark, through the promise of an encounter with, not just a celebrity, but a living personality whose life was guided by a constant search for beauty. It is an invitation for all those who are fascinated by a strong aesthetic heritage embodied by special objects to visit and appreciate a collective story: fashion history lovers, jewellery collectors and those with an affinity for contemporary interior design.
Behind each piece of jewellery, each sketch or decorative object, lies a chapter from the life of Doris Brynner, ready to reveal its story.
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