When a home transcends being a mere residence and becomes a living, breathing autobiography, something fascinating occurs – not just for the occupant, but each person who walks into the space for the first time, and every time thereafter. For sixty years, within the private walls of her sanctuary, Whoopi Goldberg has been a quiet custodian of history, craftsmanship, and whim.

As she opens her doors to Julien’s Auctions, we are granted a rare, first-look passage through a home that feels less like a celebrity estate and more like a curated journey through the 20th century. “This is an auction about a life,” Whoopi tells us, reflecting on the sixty to seventy years of "stuff" she is finally ready to share. “The stories behind things interest me. Unique things or things that I didn’t know about as a kid... those are the things that got me.”

The Art of the ‘Line’: A Deco Dream

To understand Whoopi Goldberg’s aesthetic, one must look to the 1920s and 30s. While the world knows her for her bold, modern voice, her domestic soul resides in the era of Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

“When you look at pictures of places in the 30s or the 20s, the lines are beautiful, the space is always good looking," she observes. “I always thought... well, that’s what I would like my house to feel like.”

Nowhere is this more evident than in her Italian Art Deco bedroom suite by Giovanni Guerrino. Circa 1925, the burl walnut set is a masterclass in geometry and grace. From the sinuous beveled edges of the mirrors to the carnelian-colored Bakelite handles, the suite represents a time when functionality was never sacrificed for form. To walk through her home is to see this philosophy repeated, right down to the 1930s Art Deco console table, whose minimalist frame serves as a pedestal for a life lived out loud.

Dining as Dialogue: The ‘Antisocial’ Hostess

Perhaps the most poignant stop on the tour is the dining room. Here, the furniture is museum-quality – specifically the Louis Majorelle "Epis de Ble" suite. The mahogany pieces, carved with delicate ears of wheat, anchor a room designed for high-stakes conversation.

But Whoopi’s relationship with dining is more cerebral than one might expect. In a surprising moment of candor, she admits that her collection of world-class dinnerware was actually a bridge for her own social reservations.

“A lot of the dishes that I got, I got because I am antisocial,” she explains with a laugh. “I knew that if I had fabulous dishes, I could talk to people about different things. I knew that if I had people to dinner, somebody would say, 'What is this?' and I could explain it.”

Aside from her A-list friends, the stars of these conversations were often her Mintons Pate-sur-Pate plates. These are not your average dinner service; they are masterpieces of ceramic relief. One particular set of twelve, commissioned by the legendary New York socialite Mae Caldwell Plant in 1916, features a rare pink hue that defies tradition. “You look at them and think, 'I don’t want to eat off that,' but you do,” Whoopi says. “You DO want to eat off that because it makes you feel better.”

A Symphony of Curiosities

As we move through the living spaces, the house reveals its “eclectic” heart – a word Whoopi uses with pride, even if she thinks it might surprise her fans.

On a sideboard sits the Meissen Monkey Band, a 24-piece orchestra of porcelain primates. Inspired by the “Sun King,” Louis XIV, who used table ornaments to facilitate talk when he couldn't speak to every guest, Whoopi adopted the same royal tactic. "They played wonderfully for me," she says. “They made me very happy. And it’s groovy.”

Nearby, the glow of Tiffany Studios Pond Lily piano lamps illuminates a white K. Kawaii grand piano, creating a vignette that feels both theatrical and deeply personal. Any touchpoint within Whoopi’s home can tell a story – down to the decorated Daisy Makeig-Jones’ Fairyland Lusterware for Wedgwood. In the eyes of Whoopi, these weren't just antiques; they were a search for representation. “I bought it because I thought all the figurines were Black fairies. I'd never seen Black fairies,” she says. “They look like Black people with wings. I collected it because I thought it was unique and beautiful. I loved them.”

Resting with Royalty

The tour concludes with a piece that bridges Hollywood royalty with actual royalty: an Empire-style daybed formerly part of the furnishings of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris. Painted in striking red and black with gilt highlights, it is a testament to Whoopi’s ability to blend the regal with the relaxed.

As the collection moves from her home to the auction block, there is no sadness – only a sense of a job well done and a life well lived.

“I'm really lucky. I have a wonderful life. And I've put wonderful things in it,” Whoopi reflects. “As the collection was leaving my house, I thought, 'Oh, you did all right, kid. You did all right.'”