Estate sale may include pair of Queen Elizabeth II's underwear

MIAMI -- This weekend's sale is sure to get Her Majesty's knickers in a twist.

Although Queen Elizabeth II's undergarment can't be purchased (yet), it will be on display during the estate sale of Coconut Grove's larger-than-life character, the late Baron Joseph de Bicske Dobronyi, better known as Sepy.

On Saturday and Sunday at his Coconut Grove home, the public has the chance to purchase more than 700 items from the iconic playboy's collection of artifacts and art from 83 countries, as well as his personal items -- even his Viking-ship bed, priced at $7,000.

But those royal bloomers -- reportedly a gift to Dobronyi from a friend some 40 years ago -- will be auctioned off at a later date.

Expected selling price: $9,000 for the yellowed-with-age briefs, measuring about 24 inches around the waist and 16 inches long, trimmed with lace and marked with a monogram of the letter E topped with a crown.

"It is our belief they are authentic," said Louis Cruz, who is managing the estate sale. "Of course there's no way to find out at this point unless it is authenticated either by Buckingham Palace or the garment maker. Hopefully Buckingham Palace will consent to the auction."

The estate is considering Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers in England for the auction of the royal drawers, and Hansons is currently seeking approval from the British government, according to the estate's attorney, Michael Freeman of Coral Gables, Fla.

The story of the royal panties has circled the Web and print magazines for the past couple of weeks, after their sale was first reported by celebrity news website TMZ.

The tale goes something like this: Dobronyi's friend gifted him the underwear after finding them abandoned in a private plane when the Queen visited Chile in 1968. No word on what the friend was doing on board.

But not even his own sons had heard about this famous find, though one of them, Ferenc Dobronyi, said the story sounds "pretty accurate."

"I can place him in Chile in 1968. I know he was there with my mom," Ferenc said. Neither Ferenc nor his brother, Joseph Dobronyi, is involved in the estate sale.

Dobronyi, who died in May, was known as an adventurer and ladies' man, flaunting his flings with stars such as Raquel Welch, Eva Gabor, Ava Gardner, Brigitte Bardot, Debbie Reynolds and Anita Eckberg.

The host of extravagant parties, Dobronyi was also a sculptor, fine-jewelry maker, photographer and importer of art and artifacts from his travels to Asia and the South Pacific.

Among the items on sale this weekend include sculptures and jewelry he crafted, as well as antique Chinese drums, a diminutive Balinese door made into a distinctive table, Cuban furniture and his Asmat art from expeditions to New Guinea, once considered the largest private collection.

Some of the pricier items are tagged at around $25,000. But the most expensive will be the home itself, on the market for $1.9 million. In a gated, wooded section of the Grove called Ye Little Wood, the two story home is on a 37,400-square-foot lot.

Dobronyi's house, like his life, comes with a past. Much of the 1972 porn classic "Deep Throat" was filmed there, as were scenes in the 1960s Tony Rome detective movies staring Frank Sinatra.

To examine -- and buy -- the clues to Dobronyi's life, the public is invited to show up between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Saturday and Sunday at 3980 Wood Avenue, Coconut Grove.

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(c) 2010, The Miami Herald.

Visit The Miami Herald Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.herald.com/.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

 

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