Snailwell Stud & Frederick Fox Estates
Bury St Edmunds based auctioneers Lacy & Scott & Knight's 13th December Fine Art sale features an excellent selection of quality antiques and art works, alongside effects from the estates of Frederick Fox LVO, milliner to the Queen, and Mrs Brudenell-Bruce, late owner of Snailwell Stud in Newmarket.
One of Britain's finest milliners, Australian-born 'Freddie' Fox (2 April 1931 - 11 December 2013) was milliner to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, other members of the Royal Family and notable personalities. Fox made more than 350 hats for the Queen over a period of 35 years, surviving, as he put it, "three tailors, four dressmakers, three vendeuses and two designers". He also made hats for many members of the royal family, including Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princesses Alexandra & Michael of Kent and Princess Anne. Other notable clients included Hillary Clinton, Barbara Cartland and Joan Collins.
Notable hats designed by Fox included a 1977 pink hat with bells that the Queen wore to a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark her Silver Jubilee, and the celebrated flying-saucer-shaped hat for Princess Diana. The prototype for the Queen's Silver Jubilee hat is in the V&A Museum but another example is lot 1039 in our sale (right).
Fox and his partner of 53 years, fashion designer Murray Arbeid (see dress right), built a home in Preston St Mary, Suffolk, displaying their obvious flair for design. They lived in the house together for over 20 years until Murray's death in 2011. Fox was a keen gardener and especially enjoyed growing orchids in his conservatory, as well as his meadow and rose garden.
In films, Fox designed the white "crash helmets" worn in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), hats for The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and Evil Under The Sun (1982). Frederick Fox passed away in December 2013 in his 82nd year and was buried near his home in Suffolk.
Frederick Fox LVO lots are marked with a # throughout the catalogue.
Dana Brudenell-Bruce was the daughter of Stanhope Joel who purchased Snailwell Stud, Newmarket, in 1946. Following Mrs Brudenell-Bruce's death the sale of the Busted House contents includes many reminders of seven decades of one family's involvement in thoroughbred breeding and racing.
Stanhope Joel's St Leger winner of 1945, Chammossaire stood at Snailwell and amongst many other winners sired the 1964 Derby winner Santa Claus. Stanhope's 1967 Horse of the Year, Busted, also stood at Snailwell.
Dana Brudenell-Bruce continued the family success in racing and breeding. Her Circus Ring was the top juvenile filly of 1981 and Opale won the 1984 Irish St Leger. With her sister, Solna Jones, she owned the 1979 Gold Cup winner, Alverton.
Dana Brudenell-Bruce was one of the first women to be elected a member of the Jockey Club and served as a racecourse steward, notably at Ascot and York. She was also a director of the National Horseracing Museum and the Jockey Club Charitable Trust. Following her death she was described by the Racing Post as "pioneering the way for female administrators and officials in the sport."
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