Born in Slovenia in the early 1930s, Anastasia Bavdaz Polacco became a member of the Corps de ballet of the Teatro Verdi in Trieste at a very young age. She participated in a number of tours in which she danced the lead role, treading the boards of some of Italy's most revered theatres.
It was during one of these tours that she met her future husband, Marco Polacco. After falling in love, she left the ballet behind and moved to Milan where she devoted herself to family life. However, Polacco continued her love for the arts and fashion, leaving her exquisite estate to her children and grandchildren.
With her distinctive taste for art, Polacco found her calling as a consultant for her husband, the general manager of HAAS, a prestigious textiles and carpets company.
Anastasia Bavdaz Polacco lived an illustrious social life in Milan. Her wardrobe was unrivalled, with impeccable designs by seamstress Piera Filippini, who would create Polacco pieces from fabric the socialite would select herself.
After she separated from her husband in 1969, Anastasia Bavdaz Polacco moved to Cortina where she continued her glamorous lifestyle amongst the international high society. In 1973, she had a role in Larry Peerce's film Ash Wednesday, which starred Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Fonda and Helmut Berger.
At the beginning of the 1980s she moved to Florence. Her interest in art, fashion, literature, and music continued to be an important part of her life. Polacco surrounded herself with painters, sculptors and writers whilst devoting herself to charity, combining her philanthropy with her passion for the arts.
She spent the last years of her life in her beloved house in Chianti, which she had lovingly decorated.
Anastasia Bavdaz Polacco's wardrobe will be going under the hammer at Maison Bibelot. Around 300 pieces will be featured, many of which were made for Polacco by Milan's major fashion houses using fabrics she selected herself. Her love for unusual forms and bright colours were an important part of her fashion of the 1980s. Polacco'se favourite designer was Gianfranco Ferre. The collection also features pieces by Versace, Ungaro and Valentino.
Another sale all about fashion will take place at Maison Bibelot on 9th January. The selection of 200 lots includes clothing and accessories by Italian and international designers from the 1950s to the 1990s. With a large number of exclusive bags, scarves and shoes by Beltrami, Ferragamo, Gucci, Cavalli, Pollini, Gherardini and Roberta di Camerino.
Check out more about the 9th January sale at Maison Bibelot here.
