Brooke Astor Auction Raises Nearly $19-Million for Charity

Nonprofit groups that the late New York philanthropist Brooke Astor supported will receive $18.8-million from this week’s sale of some 900 items from her two homes, more than double the expected take, writes the Associated Press.

Auction house Sotheby’s had estimated the collection of furnishings, paintings, jewelry, and other objects would fetch $6-million to $9-million during the two-day sale concluded Tuesday evening.

Proceeds will benefit the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other institutions and charities, under a deal reached by the New York attorney general’s office to settle a bitter dispute over Ms. Astor’s estate.

The longtime doyenne of New York society died in 2007 at the age of 105, suffering from dementia. Her son, Anthony Marshall was convicted in 2009 of exploiting Ms. Astor’s condition to secure changes in her will that would gain him millions of dollars. He has appeal the conviction.