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Today, Sotheby’s unveils Swinging on a Star: The Private Collection of Kathryn and Bing Crosby, which will be offered in a landmark auction on 18 December. The auction will be a headline event of Sotheby’s inaugural auctions at its new home in the iconic Breuer building on Madison Avenue. This exceptional sale offers an intimate glimpse into the lives, loves, and legacies of two Hollywood legends whose careers shaped the golden age of American entertainment.

Drawn from the Crosby family’s private holdings, the auction features an extraordinary array of treasures amassed over decades—from fine art and collectibles to rare Fabergé pieces and objects that reflect the couple’s shared life, travels, and passions. Together, these items illuminate both the glamorous world the Crosbys inhabited and the deeply personal stories behind their collecting.

From their serendipitous meeting on the Paramount lot in 1952—when a young Kathryn Grandstaff captivated multimedia star Bing Crosby—emerged a love story that spanned two decades, marked by both artistic achievement and personal devotion. Bing Crosby, with three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an Academy Award for Going My Way, made history with his transformational contributions to music, television, and film, shaping the future of recording and broadcast media and remembered for his iconic roles in White Christmas and The Bells of St. Mary’s. Kathryn Grant, a celebrated actress with notable roles in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Anatomy of a Murder, was equally central to their shared legacy, playing an integral role not only in Hollywood but also in the personal and professional partnership they built together.

While their names are synonymous with Hollywood, Bing Crosby and Kathryn Grant were, above all, passionate collectors whose curated treasures tell the story of their remarkable lives and refined sensibilities.

Together, this sale celebrates not only the Crosbys’ extraordinary contributions to entertainment and culture but also the enduring spirit of their partnership, a true Hollywood love story reflected through the art and objects they cherished most.

The exhibition will be open to the public at Sotheby’s New York galleries in the Breuer building (945 Madison Avenue) from 13-17 December, offering collectors an opportunity to experience these extraordinary works firsthand.