Of course, an art piece of his beloved Choupette is included.
Karl Largerfeld, a key figure in the luxury industry, passed away in February 2019. However, with a six-decade-long career in fashion, his memory lives on through an auction organized by Sotheby’s.
Titled “Succession Karl Largerfeld,” his creations and items from sketches (already sold for over €100,000) to his Rolls Royce (already sold for $1.33 million) are going under the hammer.
The pieces are sourced from his estates in Monaco, Paris, and Cologne, and auctions for items for the respective cities run from December to March 2022. The auction house selected more than 1,000 lots of the prolific designer’s belongings.
Given his eclectic design taste and diverse interests, here are some of the highlights of Largerfeld’s prized possessions that are sold or still up for bids.
Choupette sculpture by Joana Vasconcelos
“There is something unforgettable about her, the way she moves, the way she plays, she’s an inspiration for elegance—for attitude,” Largerfeld once said about his Birman cat, Choupette. He added that his pet was the “love of his life,” and it even had two personal maids to cater to its needs.
In line with this, of course, the designer who helmed Chanel for 36 years had much art dedicated to Choupette. Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos handmade the sculpture in 2013 in honor of the beloved pet.
The piece was estimated to be sold at a maximum of €7,000 but was auctioned for more than double at €20,106.
You can find more information here.
Largerfeld’s “inspiration” scrapbooks and notebooks
With one scrapbook from the eighties labeled “Largerfeld, man’s perfume, pub ideas 86,” it may have been during the idea process of launching his eponymous label in 1984.
The set of three scrapbooks includes handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, and felt-tip sketches by the designer himself. The lot was sold for €151,200 while estimated at €5,000.
You can find more information here.
Technogym Exercise Machine
In a 1990 interview with Vogue, Largerfeld said he was a “frustrated” interior designer, “I’m very fussy about perfection and detail.”
When the designer revamped the French house, Chloe, in the seventies, he collected world-class Art-Deco pieces to boost inspiration. But in a few years, he grew tired of the collection and sold it all.
A fascination with the Studio 54 era of bodybuilding and hedonism replaced his Art-Deco obsession in 1975. With that said, it’s the story behind the modern exercise equipment he owned up to his death.
The gym set’s estimated worth is €2,000 to €3,000.
You can find more information here.
Set of five leather gloves
The set is just one out of many pairs of Largerfeld’s gloves up for auction. After all, the creative powerhouse is known for its signature look of black blazers, sunglasses, and lambskin leather gloves.
This set is still up for bids with an estimated price of €2,000—however, one lot of five Chanel gloves already sold for €47,880 despite its same estimated cost.
You can find more information here.
Portrait by Gianni Versace
Italian fashion designer and founder of Versace Gianni Versace held a close relationship with Largerfeld with his sister, Donatella.
When Largerfeld passed away in 2019, Donatella wrote a dedication saying, “Karl, your genius touched the lives of so many, especially Gianni and I. We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you.”
Unfortunately, Gianni was assassinated in 1997. Before the tragedy, he sketched a portrait of Largerfeld stamped and signed with “Love, Gianni.” The lot sold for €94,500.
You can find more information here.
Banner photo from @autographes_des_siecles on Instagram
