The Estate of Dr. George (Jürgen) Wittenstein & Dr. Christel Bejenke Wittenstein
Abell Auction Co. is proud to present the estate of Dr. George (Jürgen) Wittenstein & Dr. Christel Bejenke Wittenstein, a prominent Santa Barbara couple with an incredible humanitarian background. Dr. George Wittenstein was a general, cardiovascular, and thoracic surgeon, while his wife Dr. Christel Bejenke Wittenstein was an anesthesiologist.
While first in the United States, Dr. George Wittenstein lived in Colorado, where he taught and studied at Denver General Hospital. He and his family moved to Santa Barbara in 1960, where he practiced medicine for 35 years.
Custom Florence Knoll sofas surrounding the fireplace in the Wittenstein estate.
The Wittenstein collection is beautiful testament to the prosperous era in which Dr. George Wittenstein raised his family, as well as his German history. The collection includes antique German carved wood armoires, coffers and credenzas, in addition to original mid-century pieces by Florence Knoll, George Nelson, Eames, Bertoia, Kartel and much more. Abell Auction Co. will begin selling the mid-century pieces on Thursday, November 29th and the in the following Thursday auctions, while the antique German pieces will be sold in an early 2019 Quarterly Fine Art sale.
The trunk Dr. George Wittenstein came to American in, and assorted antique German cameras that Dr. George Wittenstein used to document his efforts in the White Rose resistance group (Contax, Zeiss and Voightlander Vitomatic)
Bertoia patio furniture in the Wittenstein Santa Barbara estate
Knoll upholstered modern open armchair, white laminate top mid-century occasional end table, Theodore Hatlin: “Eclipse” woodblock, mid-century cage lamp, George Nelson bubble lighting fixture, and assorted mid-century ceramic pottery pieces
Florence Knoll upholstered daybed and George Nelson bubble lighting fixture
Eames side chairs, laminate mid-century dinette table, vintage Murano glass pieces, and mid-century cage lighting fixture