There is little question that Karl Lagerfeld was a formidable force in the fashion world. Despite his passing in 2019, the mark he left on the luxury goods industry will not be easily erased. More than an iconic figure in fashion, the former creative director of Fendi, Chanel and Chloe also made a name for himself as a photographer, decorator and collector.
While some have paid tribute to the legendary designer by retelling the story of his life and career through documentaries and film, Sotheby’s has announced it will recognise Lagerfeld’s rich and multifaceted story in its own way: by auctioning over 1000 lots from his homes in France and Monaco.
In a series of eight auctions divided between Monaco, Paris and Cologne, items from the late couturier’s most personal collections, which range from fine art, design and fashion, will be up for sale.
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Eclectic interiors
According to Sotheby’s, Lagerfeld’s unique tastes in interior design, ever changing throughout his life, is reflected in his extensive collection. His zeal for Art Deco styles in the early seventies represented what he described as “this modernity that I am tirelessly searching for”, before he became partial to the Memphis group’s exuberant colours in the eighties.
Later he would find an interest in 18th century decorative arts of the French, while the last two decades of his life saw a love for contemporary, futuristic designers such as Mark Newson and Martin Szekely. However, in his last residence, the decor took a very specific turn towards Germany in the 1920s with German posters from the early 20th century and furniture by Bruno Paul.
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Bidding farewell
Among the vast collection, items featuring Lagerfeld himself, such as his portrait by Takashi Murakami and his own Tokidoki dolls, will be up for auction. Expectedly quirky personal items will also be featured in the sale, such as a Jeff Koons Balloon Venus and bowls decorated with images of his famously spoiled cat, Choupette. The fingerless gloves that he was never seen without for 20 years, and a number of suit jackets from Dior, Saint Laurent, and Comme des garçons, are also included in the collection.
The auctions, which will offer ‘an anthology of his personal taste’, will take place in Monaco from 3-5 December, in Paris on 14-15 December, and in Cologne in the spring.
For more information on the auctions, visit sothebys.com
Source: Sotheby’s