Freeman’s Presents Camp Rosemary: The Estate of Posy Krehbiel – Part I & II A Two-Day Auction Series in Chicago Featuring More Than 450 Lots from a Landmark Lake Forest Estate

This December, Freeman’s will present Camp Rosemary: The Estate of Posy Krehbiel, an impressive two-part auction series offering more than 450 objects from one of Lake Forest’s most storied properties.

The sales, on December 10 and 11 in Chicago, celebrate the life and legacy of Posy Krehbiel—renowned philanthropist, artist, athlete, world traveler, and gardener—and her beloved home, Camp Rosemary. Camp Rosemary comprises nearly nine acres of lush formal gardens and a stately red brick Georgian residence designed in 1904 by prominent architect Benjamin Marshall for John Taylor Pirie and his wife, Sophie Skirving Hunter. Landscape architect Rose Standish Nichols, celebrated for her work on East Coast estates, created the original garden plan, which has since evolved into a breathtaking horticultural masterpiece.

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The pool and pool house
A flower garden near the conservatory

For more than thirty years, Posy and her family lovingly restored the estate in partnership with a talented team of architects, designers, and expert gardeners. Architectural updates began with Chicago architects Thomas and Kirsten Beeby, followed by work with Imogen Taylor of Colefax and Fowler, the leading arbiters of English country-house taste. Together with those talented individuals, Posy preserved the estate’s historic character while gently expanding its footprint through inspired additions. These include a delightfully ornamental swimming pool folly featuring a Dutch-inspired gable and an open terrace beneath, while the pool house interiors reference classical Swedish rooms with trompe-l’oeil painted murals.

A devastating 1995 fire destroyed part of the garage wing and the apartment above, but this challenge led to renewed transformation with the construction of a glassy conservatory and an elegant adjoining guest house. The property later expanded northward with the acquisition of Meadeside, enabling the gardens to grow to include a greenhouse, a generous vegetable garden, and an apple orchard. With twenty-one distinct “garden rooms,” towering mature trees, and vibrant seasonal blooms, Camp Rosemary is widely regarded as one of the finest private gardens in North America—an enduring testament to Posy Krehbiel’s passion and vision.
 

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The Dining Room
Entry room to the home

Across the home’s interior, the connection to nature is profound: botanical textiles, leaf-form ceramics, and preserved specimens appear throughout, creating an ongoing dialogue with the gardens just beyond the windows. Eighteenth-century English and Continental furniture softly enhances the country house idyll. 

Now, those who admired Posy’s creativity and passion—from the thousands who followed her through her garden gates to collectors of design—can acquire objects in which her vibrant, joyful spirit is deeply felt.
 

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Lot 17, A Pair of English Celestial and Terrestrial Table Globes, Circa 1813 | Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Lot 36, A North European White-Painted and Parcel-Gilt Marble-Top Console Table, Second Quarter 19th Century | Estimate $5,000 - 7,000

Auction Highlights

• Lot 17 | A Pair of English Celestial and Terrestrial Table Globes, Circa 1813 | Estimate $5,000 –7,000
• Lot 36 | A North European White-Painted and Parcel-Gilt Marble-Top Console Table, Second Quarter 19th Century | $5,000 – 7,000
• Lot 131 | A Set of Ten American Silver Chargers, Retailed by Marshall Field and Co., Chicago, IL | Estimate $3,000 – 5,000
• Lot 95 | A Neoclassical Cast Iron Eight-Piece Garden Suite, Late 19th Century | Estimate $3,000 – 5,000
• Lot 92 | A Pair of Swedish Neoclassical Style Painted Cabinets, 20th Century | Estimate $3,000 – 5,000
• Lot 73 | A Set of Thirty Georgian Style Painted Dining Chairs, 20th Century | Estimate $3,000 –5,000
• Lot 166 | A North European Red-Painted Bureau Cabinet, Late 18th Century, Redecorated | Estimate $2,000 – 4,000
• Lot 160 | A George III Style Painted and Parcel-Gilt Tester Bed, 20th Century | Estimate $2,000 –4,000
• Lot 44 | A Pair of Louis XVI Style Painted Daybeds, 20th Century | Estimate $2,000 – 4,000
• Lot 30 | A Regency Black-Painted, Parcel-Gilt and Faux Book Front Cabinet, First Quarter 19th Century | Estimate $1,500 – 2,500
• Lot 34 | A French Painted Canvas Four-Panel Floor Screen, Late 18th/Early 19th Century | Estimate $1,500 – 2,500

About Freeman’s 
Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including 
fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, 
and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, 
appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. 
Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary 
objects through exceptional service and expertise.