Judy Taubman Barred from London Flat While Paintings Gathered for Sale

With the Taubman collection settled with Sotheby’s, the process of gathering all the works has begun. According to this report in London’s Evening Standard, the process hasn’t been entirely smooth as Alfred Taubman’s children found it necessary to block their stepmother from her London home until two paintings worth less than $1m could be removed from the premises:

Mrs Taubman claimed the flat was left to her, but until the estate is released in mid-October it remains under the control of his three children. Although they have been allowing her to use the property, the stand-off arose because of a dispute over the two paintings. After eight hours, the auction house sent a van to pick up the paintings, and Mrs Taubman was finally allowed inside. A spokesman for the three Taubman children, all based in America, said the incident had been “regrettable and unnecessary” but it had been resolved with “no force needed”.

Sotheby’s widow locked out of flat by stepchildren (London Evening Standard)