Fine and Decorative Art

Walter and Leonore Annenberg were prolific collectors of fine and decorative art. They consistently sought best-in-class examples across their broad areas of interest.  The interior design at Sunnylands reveals a joyful interplay of their carefully chosen masterworks and tabletop bibelots. They not only collected together, they thoughtfully placed each work of art until they were satisfied that they had found the perfect location for each.

Fine artworks on view at Sunnylands Center & Gardens and in the historic home include works by Auguste Rodin, Jean Arp, Yaacov Agam, Pablo Picasso, Etienne Hajdu, and Alberto Giacometti.

Decorative objects include works by Tiffany & Co., Lalique, Meissen Porcelain, Boucheron, Boehm Porcelain, and Steuben glass. Assembling an important Chinese ceramic, stone, and metalwork collection was among their favorite collecting activates. These works span the Tang dynasty to the Republic of China era and include cloisonné figures and furniture, sancai-glazed funerary figures, jade and jadeite figures, and export porcelain. Other tabletop objects include selections of Georg Jensen tableware and royal pedigree English silver-gilt.

They also dotted their 200 acres of lush grounds with a variety of compelling monuments inspired by their travels, including a totem pole by renowned Kwakiutl carver Henry Hunt; a bronze fountain by the Chávez Morado brothers inspired by the one on view at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City; and an abstract avian sculpture by Canadian artist Art Price, Birds of Welcome.