Design Legend Mario Buatta's Home Collection Will Be Up for Auction at Sotheby's

The late decorator Mario Buatta was known in the design world as the "Prince of Chintz," a reference to his passion for English country style and outfitting rooms with floral fabric. Now, Sotheby's is giving us all a better sense of Buatta's signature aesthetic by putting his estate up for auction.

The two-day sale, taking place at 10 a.m. ET on January 23rd and 24th in New York City, will showcase more than 1,000 items from Buatta's personal collection, including furniture, fine art, and decorative objects. Among the included items are Buatta's chintz cape, a 19th century canopied bed, Louis XV painted fauteuils, and a floral painting by Dutch artist Jan van Os. The stunning collection is comprised of items from two of Buatta's homes: an Upper East Side apartment and the William Mason House in Thompson, Connecticut. He was was greatly influenced by Colefax & Fowler and the late design icon Sister Parish, and over the years, he designed homes for everyone from Barbara Walters to Patricia Altschul, whose Charleston property is currently featured on Bravo's Southern Charm.

When asked about his home's aesthetic, Buatta once said: "My apartment today is full of things I've collected over the years. Everything here tells a story. Some of it is good, some of it is chipped and broken, but it's a collection. It's what John Fowler called 'pleasing decay,' which many don't understand today...it means that something looks well-worn and I lived with, like an old pair of shoes that you love or an old jacket that gets better with age, it has character."

Scroll down for a selection of Buatta's items that will be part of the auction, which showcases his taste in timeless antiques and decorative accents. Plus, see more of the collection here.