From Medieval feasts and Victorian garden parties to Instagram-worthy outdoor fêtes of the moment, picnics have long been a beloved summertime activity. Drawing from our upcoming sales and Sotheby’s archives, we compiled a visual checklist of essentials to pack before heading to your favourite grassy knoll or seaside spot to dine al fresco. Click ahead to see the food and accessories in our picnic basket – and don't forget the rosé!
–Stephanie Sporn
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Edmund Blair Leighton, A Picnic Party. Estimate £60,000–80,000 ($77,832–103,776). To be offered in Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite & British Impressionist Art on 13 July in London.