Rue bought 24 of these handmade ceramic chargers – created by Spanish artist Ribesalbes Figas – for use in the dining room of her Encino, California home; yes, her dining room sat 24. Each one has a unique hand-painted design, which also makes them perfect for display. In fact, Rue ended up hanging several of them in her Manhattan apartment – you can see this particular one in the corner of the photo provided. The chargers were crafted with holes in the back so you could run a string or wire through and hang them up. The plate measures 13 1/2” across and is signed “Figas” on the back. It comes with a copy of the picture which shows it hanging in Rue’s Manhattan apartment, and a Certificate of Authenticity from The Estate of Rue.
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New items will be regularly added to the Estate Sale. Please keep checking back for more great things from The Estate of Rue!Featured Items
Gift from Bea Arthur [SOLD]
This is a very difficult piece to let go of because it was one of Rue’s prized possessions, but Rue’s son intends to follow his Mother’s final wishes and make ALL of her personal property available to her fans – except family items of sentimental value that he selected. Bea Arthur had this sterling silver and 14kt gold pin custom made for her friend Rue McClanahan way back during the “Maude” years. Both their friendship and their working relationship continued for many more years – the friendship until Bea died, in fact – and there were many more gifts exchanged during that time, but Rue said this was the one she cherished most. There was something about a talented, professional like Bea recognizing and setting down in silver and gold that she thought Rue was a star that really touched Rue’s heart. The pin measures 1″ x 1.5″. We’ll include prints of some of Rue’s personal photos showing the two ladies together and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$2,000
Rue's Personal Playbills From Jimmy Shine (With Piece of Her First Night Bouquet)
Although Rue was an understudy in a couple of Broadway Shows before “Jimmy Shine,” this was the show in which she made her Broadway debut – she finally walked out onto a Broadway stage and performed. This was a pivotal role in her career and it personally validated the path she had chosen. The star of the show was none other than Mr. Dustin Hoffman, and Rue told us that since “The Graduate” had recently come out in theaters all over the world, there was a mob of screaming girls waiting for Mr. Hoffman after each performance – we actually found an image on the Internet! Although Rue saved Playbills from every show she was ever in, the Playbills from her Broadway debut held a place of particular importance in her heart. If you look at the photo taken of Rue from the night she first took the stage, you can see her holding one of these Playbills and a bouquet of red roses. Rue pressed a rose from that bouquet between the pages of that Playbill and over 45-years later we found a piece of the stem still inside. Isn’t that cool? Rue’s original Playbills from “Jimmy Shine will come with that piece of stem and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$225 NOW $112.50
A Strand of Rue's Butterflies
Rue owned several of these 6-foot long strands of butterflies. She had them in three different sizes, too, and this one is the smallest, with each of the 12 butterflies measuring approximately 4″ across. We don’t know exactly what these little wonders are made out of, but the wings have the same feel and look as if they were from real butterflies. Rue used to hang these in her houseplants, and you can see a strand or two in the tall plant next to her in the photo posted. Rue’s strand of butterflies come with a print of the photo shown and a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$225
Personalize Signed 8" x 10" Memoir Cover Shot - "To Joseph" [SOLD]
Why Rue never sent this personalized, signed photograph to whoever this Joseph was, we’ll never know. Perhaps she didn’t like the signature, but she never threw it out. We found this in her desk. Certainly there is a Joseph out there that you know, or perhaps you are one yourself, who is a Rue McClanahan fan. This is very likely the only way you’ll ever get an original, personalized, signed picture of Rue. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$99
Citrine or Imperial Topaz? - $79 [SOLD]
As you may already know, Rue had this little faux-alligator travel case that she filled with loose gemstones – she often purchased stones and then had them made into one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces (and just for the record, how fabulous is that?). Anyway, this particular rock is either a citrine or – the rarest Imperial topaz. If it is the former, it is known as the “Lucky Merchants Stone” and is to be put in a cash register for amazing results, and is used for healing problems with digestion, diabetes, constipation and depression – none of which Rue had, so maybe it worked. If it is the later, then we are letting a stone worth a fortune go for next to nothing (which, believe it or not, Rue would love!). The boulder is over half and inch long and about 3/8″ wide. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$79
Rue's Pine Box From 1949 Family Vacation
In 1949 Rue’s Father packed the whole family into the car and drove them from Oklahoma to New York City for a family vacation; it was the trip during which a 14-year old Rue realized she belonged in Manhattan and would some day be a star. As soon as they crossed the boarder into Arkansas and were in the foothills of the Ozarks, Rue was already shopping. They stopped at a roadside diner for lunch and she made her first purchase of the trip: this 6.5″ x 3.5″ wooden box with a bakelite vase of flowers on the front. This prized childhood souvenir comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Estate of Rue.
$275