The legendary Kenzo Takada, who passed in October 2020, has left his mark on the history of fashion. Artcurial is holding two auctions dedicated to the designer in May, one for the sale of his furniture, the other for his unique clothing creations. A 100% SoBARNES auction duo, and a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a piece from the most Parisian Japanese icon there ever was.
Born in Japan in 1939, Kenzo Takada discovered Paris in 1965 at the age of 25. An instant love story, in which the two would never part. Until an epidemic swept across the world... On 11 May 2021, Artcurial will be presenting the personal collection of the founder of the eponymous brand, Kenzo (which he sold to LVMH in 1993), in Paris. Set in his Parisian apartment, where Kenzo spent the last years of his life, this collection of 600 lots includes designer furniture, masterpieces and some of his own paintings, Harcourt crystal service by Baccarat, marked with the designer's emblem and a Buddha torso dating from the 3rd century.
In parallel, the Artcurial Fashion & Luxury Accessories department will be holding an auction from 3 to 12 May dedicated to Kenzo Takada’s original creations comprising 150 pieces including kimonos, boleros, coats, dresses and shirts.
After having commissioned and lived in a Japanese house near Bastille, Kenzo moved to a light-filled Haussmann-style apartment in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, opposite the Lutetia hotel. Built up over the years, the furniture, paintings and works of art in the collection auctioned by Artcurial reflect the nomadism of a spirit in perpetual movement between his Japanese roots and his adopted country, France. “The Kenzo collection reveals to us the eye of this genius in the world of fashion and interiors. As with his couture, he knew how to bring different cultures together in this Parisian apartment where he lived for the last 15 years of his life.”, explains Stéphane Aubert, Auctioneer & Associate Director, Artcurial.
Enthusiasts (ourselves included) will also have an opportunity to discover the talents of Kenzo Takada the artist, with several of his paintings on offer, including some from the series “Masques Nô” (est.: : €1,500 - €2,500) and Personnage en tenue de dignitaire japonais, an oil on canvas estimated at between €2,000 and €3,000.
The 150 fashion pieces auctioned online, including previously unseen and unsold items, provide an intimate insight into the creative process of Kenzo Takada. Made from velvet, satin, cashmere, Jacquard and taffeta, the pieces were created between 2005 and 2008 for a new project under the name Takada. Estimated at between €60 and €800 (which is more than reasonable, don’t you think?), they include finished products as well as unfinished prototypes, sometimes accompanied by sketches. Full ensembles will also be up for auction, recreated by Artcurial based on the lookbooks produced by Kenzo himself.
“Every wall, every sky and every passer-by helps me build my collections.” Kenzo Takada (Himeji, Japan, 1939 – Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 2020)
--
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Furniture: Exhibition from Monday 3 to Tuesday 11 May 2021, auction Tuesday 11 May at 2pm / Creations: Exhibition from Monday 3 to Wednesday 10 May 2021, online auction 3 to 12 May
Artcurial - 7, rond-point des Champs-Elysées - 75008 Paris
Catalogues on Artcurial.com
Pictures @Arcturial - DR
Voir cette page en Français