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Late Polish billionaire's art up for auction

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 25.03.2015 10:37
A selection of art and antiques that belonged to heiress Barbara Piasecka-Johnson will go under the hammer on Friday in a charity auction.
Glassware due to auctioned in Friday's auction from the estate of Barbara Piasecka-Johnson. Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej ZborowskiGlassware due to auctioned in Friday's auction from the estate of Barbara Piasecka-Johnson. Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski

The Pole, who married US pharmaceuticals tycoon John Seward Johnson I in 1971, became one of the world's richest people, with an estimated fortune of USD 2.7 billion by 2007.

Photo:
Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski

Before emigrating to America, where she was employed as a cook at the Johnson household, she had attained a degree in art history from Wrocław University.

She helped expand his art collection, and this week's sale in Wrocław takes in a wide variety of items, including antique Chinese furniture, European glassware and medieval sculptures.

Piasecka-Johnson died in Poland in April 2013, after a long illness.

Former president Lech Wałęsa described Piasecka-Johnson as ''a patriot,'' noting her efforts to save the Gdańsk Shipyard, birthplace of the pro-democracy Solidarity trade union. (nh)

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