Behind the Curtain: The Tony Walton Collection at Willow Auction House

This November, Willow Auction House invites collectors and theatre lovers to take one final bow Behind the Curtain. On Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST, the third and final day of The Tony Walton Collection sale takes center stage on Bidsquare. The multi-day auction celebrates the remarkable career and personal life of Tony Walton; one of the most imaginative and influential designers in modern theatre and film.
Across more than 700 lots, Behind the Curtain: The Tony Walton Collection, Day 3 offers an intimate look at Walton’s private collection; filled with the art, books, posters, and personal objects that inspired his celebrated six-decade career. The sale concludes a sweeping three-day event that has drawn attention from theatre historians, collectors, and design aficionados alike.

A Life in Design
Tony Walton (1934–2022) was a true master of visual storytelling. Over the course of sixty years, he designed sets and costumes for some of Broadway’s most memorable productions, including Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun, and Pippin. His creative reach extended far beyond the stage, earning him an Oscar, Tony, and Emmy Award; a rare triple crown that speaks to both his versatility and his brilliance.
Walton’s film credits include Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz, The Wiz, Mary Poppins, and Murder on the Orient Express, each distinguished by a signature blend of elegance and imagination. He also brought his talents to opera, ballet, and regional theatre, mentoring countless young designers along the way. This auction offers a glimpse into the mind of a man who shaped how audiences around the world see stories unfold.

Auction Highlights
Day three of the sale showcases items from Walton’s personal archive, revealing the broad range of his artistic interests and collaborations. 

Jo Mielziner Little Moon Set Design Artwork (Lot 873)
Among the highlights is a striking set design artwork by Jo Mielziner, the pioneering scenic designer often credited with defining the visual language of 20th-century Broadway. 

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,200

Miles White Lena Horne Jamaica Costume Design (Lot 876)
Equally captivating is the costume design by Miles White for Lena Horne in Jamaica; a vivid watercolor that captures the glamour and rhythm of the 1957 musical.

Estimate: $800 - $1,000

Max Beerbohm 2 Works Pen & Ink, Letter (Lot 885)
Collectors will also find a charming pair of works by caricaturist Max Beerbohm, whose wit and elegance made him a favorite of early 20th-century theatre circles. 

Estimate: $700 - $900

Christian Zervos, Les Arts de la Maison, 6 Volumes (Lot 808)
For lovers of art and design books, the sale includes Christian Zervos’s Les Arts de la Maison (six volumes), a beautifully illustrated celebration of 20th-century decorative arts.

Estimate: $500 - $700

After JMW Turner Acrylic on Canvas Tempest (Lot 707)
Another standout lot is an evocative acrylic painting after J.M.W. Turner titled Tempest; a nod to the swirling drama and atmosphere that undoubtedly appealed to Walton’s own theatrical sensibilities.

Estimate: $400 - $600

Beyond these highlights, Day 3 features an extensive collection of theatre posters and window cards, many designed by Walton himself, alongside Playbills, awards, original artwork, and tin litho toys. Together, these pieces form a vivid portrait of the artist as collector; curious, playful, and endlessly inspired.

A Legacy That Endures
To step behind the curtain of Tony Walton’s world is to see the interconnectedness of art forms; how design, performance, and storytelling can merge to create unforgettable moments. His work embodied collaboration: between director and designer, between imagination and craft, between stage and audience.
For collectors, this sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire pieces that not only reflect Walton’s artistic journey but also speak to the broader history of 20th-century theatre and design. Each lot tells a story—of a production, a friendship, or a creative spark; that continues to resonate long after the curtain has fallen.
As Willow Auction House brings this extraordinary collection to a close, the final act of Behind the Curtain offers one more chance to celebrate the artistry, imagination, and enduring influence of Tony Walton; a designer whose vision continues to illuminate the stage and screen.

View the full catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.com.