The wild stories behind Joan Rivers’ most opulent possessions

Zachary Kussin

featured

Jun 21, 2016

Her comedy may have been filthy, but she kept her personal belongings in pristine shape.

A collection of luxury items from legendary comedian Joan Rivers’ lavish Upper East Side penthouse will go under the hammer at Christie’s on Wednesday morning.

The Post snuck a peek of Rivers’ stunning range of antiques, jewelry and dresses, which are on display at the Midtown auction house.

A quick stroll through the exhibit, with items that could reportedly rake in $1.5 million, feels reminiscent of a visit to the grand halls of Versailles. A number of ornate Louis XV and XVI-style furnishings adorn the showroom, which resembles Rivers’ gilded 5,100-square-foot triplex at 1 E. 62nd St. In another area, glass cases house her drool-worthy wares from famed Russian jewelry house Fabergé.

“I live very, very well,” Rivers, who died in 2014, said in the 2010 documentary “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.” “I enjoy my creature comforts, and I know I have to work for it. I can stop and live carefully, but that’s ridiculous. I don’t want to live carefully. So I would rather work and live the way I live and have a wonderful time.”

If you’re feeling especially antsy, there’s an online auction for other items in Rivers’ estate currently ongoing. The gold-beaded sequin and silk jacket she wore on her Comedy Central roast has a current bid for $1,100.

Read on for a look at some of her most standout possessions.

1 of 9

The focal point of this glittery brooch is a diamond-cluster pistil, which extends into diamond-crusted petals and a detachable diamond stem, with leaves that sparkle with -- you guessed it -- even more diamonds. It's not just the extravagance of this dazzling accessory (for which a deep-pocketed fan could shell out $30,000 to $50,000) that makes it shine, but also its story. Rivers had the flower-head portion designed from diamonds in other parts of her jewelry collection; two large marquise diamonds were sourced from a pair of her mother's earrings.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

The eccentric Rivers was a fan of dramatic costume jewelry, and it's evidenced in this Iradj Moini-designed necklace, which she wore on a number of red carpets. For an estimated $10,000 to $15,000, you can get two rows of ruby beads separated by larger emerald and amethyst stones. Talk about star quality.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

Designed by Tony Award-winning costume designer William Ivey Long, this long black-and-white feather-covered coat makes a bold statement on its own. But open it up to reveal its most winning feature: two large red-sequined E! network logos, one on each side. Of course, Rivers was known for her role on E!'s "Fashion Police," but she wore this jacket to an E! upfront red-carpet event. Count your pennies -- this look could trade for between $800 to $1,200.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

Sure, your dog can drink from a Tiffany bowl, but she can also stay cool under the shade of this Celadon silk-covered doghouse, which boasts passementerie trim and a pagoda roof. It's estimated to sell for between $1,000 and $1,500. Needless to say, this 23.5-inch-high, 18.5-inch-wide abode is best fit for a small pooch.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

If you have serious money to blow, consider this super-rare Fabergé figure of a Lily of the Valley leaf. It's just 5.5 inches long, but could sell for a cool $200,000 to $300,000. Embellished with a gold stem and rose-cut diamond-mounted pearl buds, the leaf is realistically curved and colored in a rich green hue.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

Spike, Rivers' famed Yorkshire terrier who was always at her side, stayed hydrated by drinking water from this engraved silver Tiffany bowl. Fittingly, it bears the name Spike in capital block letters and stands on a decorative base. This item is estimated to sell for between $500 and $800.Christie's Images Ltd. 2016

Comments

Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy