Newport Mansions Exclusive Experiences Auction
Holiday Edition
Especially during a pandemic, we need something to dream about. But why just dream? Our online auction offers a variety of amazing experiences you might never have thought possible. Our experiences will make a thrilling and unforgettable gift this holiday season – something we all need more than ever. So, think big – and bid high!
All winning bids will support the Preservation Society’s important work to protect, preserve and present an unsurpassed collection of amazing and historic properties.
The Exclusive Experiences described below can be enjoyed any time in the future, so don’t be held back by travel restrictions or COVID concerns. We’ll be here to fulfill the details of your winning item when you are ready.
Tell your friends and family, pool your resources, and start planning your next fabulous adventure and make the winning bid on any of these unique items.
Good luck and thank you for your support!
Questions Events@newportmansions.org
Bidding starts 9 a.m. (EST) Sunday, November 22, 2020.
Auction closes at 8 p.m. (EST) Sunday, December 6, 2020.
Scroll to page bottom for online AUCTION RULES.
Auction Item #1
Kids Sleepover at The Breakers
Create memories for a lifetime with this unique sleepover for up to 8 children (between 8-17 years). The kids and up to 4 adult chaperones will enjoy spending a night within the awesome rooms at The Breakers. First, explore the house and hear its stories with an experienced guide. Challenge yourselves with a fun and educational scavenger hunt and other games. Finally, settle in your sleeping bags in the grand surroundings for a movie and snack before drifting off to sleep under the dreamy view of the clouds overhead in the Great Hall. Each child will receive a Newport Mansions Goodie Bag.
Current High Bid: $3,500
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #2
New England Clambake at Green Animals Topiary Garden
Invite friends and family, up to 20 people, for a classic New England clambake amid the beautiful gardens and grounds at Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, R.I. Stroll through the formal boxwood-lined gardens and see the whimsical elephant, giraffe, bears and other creations, then relax and refresh with a drink on the oversized porch as you take in the sunset over Narragansett Bay. Top it all off with a delicious catered clambake feast. What an experience!
Current High Bid: $4,100
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #3
French Décor & Dining at The Elms
Indulge your love of French design, décor and cuisine in the perfect setting: The Elms, modeled after an 18th-century chateau and decorated in classic French style. We will welcome up to 10 guests for an in-depth tour and the very rare opportunity of dinner at the Dining Room table with a French-inspired menu and a delightful wine to accompany each course.
Current High Bid: $8,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #4
Pierre Cardin & Paris: A Fashionable Experience
This amazing experience for 2 guests includes chauffeured transportation and exclusive access to some of the fashion and art treasures of Paris. Your first stop is a private visit to the Pierre Cardin Fashion Museum with Renee Taponier, curator and collaborator of Pierre Cardin for more than 50 years. She will provide you with a personal tour sharing details about the fabrics, materials and techniques used to create the more than 250 Pierre Cardin Haute Couture designs on display. Next you will enjoy a private tour of Maxim's Art Nouveau Museum, viewing a private collection of objects and décor. The finale to this very special morning in Paris will be a champagne lunch at the world-famous Maxim’s restaurant, a dining experience you’ll never forget. Available Wednesday to Saturday.
Minimum Bid: $3,500
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #5
Wedding of a Lifetime at The Breakers
Say “I do” to this very rare opportunity. Hosting an evening wedding at The Breakers, the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages," will fulfill every couple’s dream of entertaining family and friends in one of the most opulent settings in the country. The awe-inspiring Great Hall, the palatial Dining Room, the stunning views of the ocean and its breaking waves will leave you and your guests with memories to treasure forever. Includes exclusive 5-hour evening use of the museum only.
Minimum Bid: $100,000
Bid Increments: $1,000
Auction Item #6
Celebrate a Victorian Tradition: Brunch at Chateau-sur-Mer
“Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling.” stated British writer Guy Beringer in 1895. Let’s continue that fun spirit! Plan a small celebration with family and friends, starting with a tour of Chateau-sur-Mer, a landmark of High Victorian architecture, furniture, wallpapers, ceramics and stenciling. When the tour is done, a delicious catered brunch awaits you and up to 8 guests in the black-and-white hall, complete with mimosas or Bloody Marys.
Current High Bid: $2,800
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #7
A Quarterly Surprise of Treasures from the Newport Mansions Stores
Win a quarterly surprise box filled with carefully selected items from our Newport Mansions Stores, packed and shipped directly to you or a gift recipient. Surprise treasures will arrive in February, May, August, and November or you may adjust the timing for a special holiday, birthday or anniversary. Our high-quality, stylish merchandise is sure to please, again and again.
Current High Bid: $1,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #8
Melodies & Drinks in The Breakers Music Room
Here’s a treat for music lovers. The Music Room, with its period piano and many musical motifs, was designed to be heard as well as seen. Plan a private two-hour celebration for up to 20 guests to enjoy cocktails while a pianist fills the room with beautiful sounds.
Current High Bid: $6,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #9
Glamping: Glamorous Camping at Rosecliff or Marble House
The high bidder for this item will have the ultimate glamping experience with an overnight stay for up to 4 on the awning-covered terrace at Rosecliff or Marble House. Guests will enjoy a catered picnic supper on the back lawn with an ocean view to start your evening of games, movies or star gazing; we will provide the nighttime snacks. The serene surroundings and the sound of waves breaking against the shore will help you drift off to sleep. In the morning, the adventure closes in comfort with a catered breakfast in bed.
Minimum Bid: $7,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #10
Christie's New York: Behind the Scenes
Christie’s is a name that evokes the finest in art and antiques; its celebrated auctions are a showcase for unique and beautiful treasures. Join renowned Americana expert John Hays, Christie’s Deputy Chairman and Antiques Roadshow favorite, as he provides a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Christie’s New York for up to 6 people. Experience the magic created over time by this 250-year-old institution that has seen some of the world’s greatest masterpieces pass through its doors.
Current High Bid: $2,300
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #11
Afternoon Tea in the Garden at Hunter House
Built in the mid-1700s for one of Newport’s leading merchants, Hunter House predates the Boston Tea Party. What a perfect place for a delightful afternoon tea in the garden for up to 8 people! First, you’ll travel back in history with a tour of the house, a National Historic Landmark exquisitely furnished in high Colonial style. Then relax and savor a delicious assortment of petite sandwiches and sweets and hot or cold tea as you enjoy the garden and view of Newport Harbor.
Current High Bid: $2,050
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #12
Paris Portrait Sitting with Christoff Debusschere
Paris is the city of lights and artists, and what better place to have your portrait created by a renowned contemporary painter? On your next visit to Paris, schedule time for your sitting with French artist Christoff Debusschere, a favorite of designer Pierre Cardin and winner of numerous prestigious prizes. You’ll feel like a celebrity as Debusschere creates a portrait you can treasure for a lifetime.
Current High Bid: $4,750
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #13
"All That Glitters is Gold" Dinner at Marble House
The over-the-top grandeur of the Gold Room at Marble House will set the scene for a unique catered reception and dinner for up to 10 people. Uniformed waitstaff will present cocktails and elegantly passed hors d’oeuvres as you take in the extravagant decoration of the surrounding rooms, from the two-story marble Foyer to the stained-glass windows of the Gothic Room. Guests will then be seated in the glittering Gold Room to savor an exquisite three-course dinner.
Current High Bid: $9,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #14
Newport Harbor Architecture Tour Aboard a Vintage Yacht
Join a well-regarded architectural historian aboard Goddess, a 58’ vintage wooden yacht, donated by McMillen Yachts and William and Elizabeth Kahane, for a 2 to 3-hour tour of Newport Harbor. We will welcome up to 12 guests aboard for wine and cheese while taking in the historic cityscape and such landmarks as the spire at Trinity Church, 1726; Harbour Court, home of the New York Yacht Club; Beacon Rock, designed by architects McKim, Mead & White; and Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortification in the U.S.
Current High Bid: $3,900
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #15
Cocktails & Carriages at The Breakers Stable
Host up to 10 guests for two hours of cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres at the well-appointed Breakers Stable and Carriage House. Enjoy drinks as you see how the families of Newport’s summer cottages traveled in style. An experienced guide will share the history of these coaches and carriages including the Vanderbilt coach, The Venture, and provide a tour of the stable area – surely one of the most elegant places that ever-housed horses!
Current High Bid: $3,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #16
Tête-à-Tête with former National Gallery of Art Director
Invite up to 3 friends to Chepstow for an intimate conversation and canapes with Dr. Rusty Powell to hear tales from the National Gallery of Art. During his 27-year tenure, Rusty brought the world’s great masterpieces to the National Gallery through hundreds of exhibitions. This interactive experience will bring you insights from the authority on America’s greatest museum collection on topics such as art collecting, the importance of America’s museums, and the most significant artists from Caravaggio to Calder, Vermeer to Van Gogh, Pissarro to Picasso.
Current High Bid: $2,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #17
"Let's Do Lunch" at The Elms
Enjoy a delicious seated luncheon, for up to 8 guests, in the beautiful Conservatory at The Elms with its greenery, statuary and plentiful natural light. When lunch is complete, take a leisurely landscape stroll among the magnificent trees and fountains to the Sunken Garden, a gem within a gem. Or, if you visit in the cooler months, be treated to a personal tour of the house, highlighting areas of specific interest to you and your guests.
Current High Bid: $3,100
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #18
Architectural Tour at The Getty, Los Angeles
Nestled in a 110-acre hilltop site in the Santa Monica Mountains with views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean below resides the iconic Getty Center designed by architect Richard Meier. Up to 4 guests will enjoy an exclusive one-hour tour of the Getty Center and its gardens and a 45-minute tour of the Getty Villa with Campus Architect, Naomi Neville. At the end of your visit relax over lunch while enjoying mountain views from the Getty Center’s Restaurant. The tour options: tour of both the Getty Center and the Getty Villa on a single weekend day or tour the Getty Center and the Getty Villa on two consecutive weekdays.
Current High Bid: $2,000
Bid Increments: $100
Auction Item #19
A Whirlybird's Eye View & Landing at The Breakers
Enjoy panoramic views of land and sea with a helicopter sightseeing tour donated by Newport Helicopter Tours for 2 over Newport, then make a celebrity-style entrance as you land on the grounds of The Breakers to receive a personalized tour and light refreshments. Finally, board your whirlybird for one final glimpse of the grandeur of the homes and sweeping lawns along Cliff Walk. Summer, dates flexible; Winter, weekends only.
Current High Bid: $2,600
Bid Increments: $100
Online Auction Rules
High bidders will be notified by email as soon as possible at the Auction close, please check your email.
Acceptance of Terms of Service
By submitting a bid via email (events@newportmansions.org) for the Auction, you agree that you understand, accept and comply with Auction Rules outlined below.
Bidder Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age and able to form legally binding contracts under applicable law.
Your Bid is a Contract
When you place a bid via email for an auction item, you enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item if you are the winning bidder. You are the winning bidder if your bid is the highest bid at Auction close and you are notified via email that you are the winning bidder.
Payment Terms
If you are a winning bidder, you agree to pay the full amount of your winning bid plus any applicable sales or use tax on your purchase.
You agree to honor the Preservation Society’s requirements regarding method and time of payment.
Winning bidders are requested to reply to an Auction Highest Bid email within 24 hours to arrange for payment and transfer of the item.
The item will be held for 24 hours, pending confirmation from the winner and payment arrangements.
Payment in full for all auction items is required within five (5) business days from time of confirmation.
The Society reserves the right to move on to the next highest Bidder if no confirmation is received within 24 hours after notification email is sent.
Auction Terms
When you place a bid by email on an auction item, you are agreeing to any specific terms and conditions imposed by the donor and included by the donor in the item’s description (except in the case that such terms would violate the law). The Society reserves the right to add or withdraw any item at any time without notice before on-line bidding begins. In the event of a dispute, the Society shall act as final authority in determining the winning bid.
Email bids (events@newportmansions.org) for all items will be accepted from Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to the Auction Close on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. (EST).
Also, please note:
- High bidders will be notified by email that they are the winner as soon as possible at Auction close.
- Bidders are asked to check the NewportMansions.org website for the most current high bid for each item.
- Current high bids will be up-dated daily on the Auction Page at NewportMansions.org at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. except on Thursday, November 26, 2020 due to the holiday.
- Bidder may submit a starting bid and a maximum bid for the item(s) they would like to bid on.
- In addition to the item information and bid amount, the Bidder must include their full name, mailing address and telephone number with any email bid submitted.
- Please use the title of the Auction item as the subject of your email bid: Subject: French Dinner at The Elms or Afternoon Tea at Hunter House.
All Bids are Final
Once you have placed a bid via email, your bid cannot be retracted (except in the case that the completion of the transaction would violate the law).
All purchases are final once you have confirmed and cannot be cancelled (except in the case that the completion of the transaction would violate the law).
Tied Bids
In the case of two bidders placing the same maximum bid, the bid first received via the time/date on their bid email will be deemed the leading bid.