Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website On 11 May 2021, Artcurial will hold a special auction: the sale of furniture from the apartment of Kenzo Takada, the legendary designer and icon of fashion. The decor of his final home, where he lived for more than 15 years, reflects a creativity nourishe
marzo 04, 2021 - Art Curial

On 11 May 2021, Artcurial will hold a special auction: the sale of furniture from the apartment of Kenzo Takada, the legendary designer and icon of fashion. The decor of his final home, where he lived for more than 15 years, reflects a creativity nourishe

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PARIS - On 11 May in Paris, #artcurial will present the personal collection of #kenzotakada, the legendary figure from the world of #fashion and founder of the Kenzo brand. Set in the Parisian apartment in the heart of the Left Bank, where he spent the last years of his life, this collection of nearly 600 items of furniture, paintings, objects and works of art displays a subtle balance between the influences of East and West,
reflecting the free spirit of this creative genius.

At the same time, an Online Only sale will present around a hundred colourful and original wardrobe creations from Kenzo Takada’s personal collection.

« Everything starts with a drawing. Nehru, Botticelli, Rashômon by Kurosawa, Romania, Africa, China, Mickey Mouse. It can all be a source of inspiration. » Kenzo Takada

Artcurial will pay a final tribute to #kenzotakada, the multi-talented artist, who chose Paris, capital of the arts, as his primary source of inspiration. The creative energy of the designer we love for his graphic and floral style is immediately apparent in this interior, located in the heart of the Left Bank in Saint Germain des Près.

In a Haussmann apartment looking out across the whole of Paris, nearly 600 pieces of Asian, Pre-Columbian and Tribal art are displayed amongst photographs, contemporary works, crystal chandeliers, Art Deco furniture and items of furniture designed by #kenzotakada, cleverly combined in a subtle fusion of elegance and eclecticism.                                                                                                               

Kenzo Takada was a true citizen of the world and this collection reflects a life dedicated to #fashion, art and culture. 

« 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. The sale will be a final tribute to this multi-talented artist. »

Stéphane Aubert,
Auctioneer & Associate Director, Artcurial

Kenzo Takada (1939-2020)
Kenzo Takada was the first Japanese designer to achieve success in the Paris #fashion world. Born on 27 February 1939 in Himeji, Japan, Kenzo was interested in #fashion from a very young age. He defied his parents’ wishes, and instead of studying literature, he
enrolled at Tokyo’s renowned Bunka #fashion College, where he was one of the first male students to be admitted to the #fashion and textiles course. To further his learning, he then decided to leave Japan and follow his dream in the international capital of the
fashion world, arriving in Paris on 1 January 1965. In 1970, he held his first #fashion show and opened his first boutique in rue Vivienne in
Le Marais, which he called Jungle Jap. A visionary designer, Kenzo’s collections met with huge and immediate success. During the first twelve months of his business, he presented not two but four collections in a single year. He was also one of the first to
adopt the concept of prêt-à-porter. In 1993, the Kenzo brand was acquired by LVMH, and he stepped down in 1999, leaving his #design team in charge. In 2015, #kenzotakada was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, and he died five years later on 4 October 2020, in Paris.

Kenzo Takada & Paris
«Every wall, every corner of the sky, every passer-by in the city provides inspiration for me when designing my collections» said #kenzotakada of Paris.

Kenzo moved to Paris to refine his talent and learn from the masters, with the idea of eventually going back to Japan. Having fallen in love with the city of lights, where he felt at home and with a desire to «create something», he ended up staying for over 50 years.
We will remember #kenzotakada for his visionary and pioneering spirit, for his unique, floral style inspired by a multitude of things, that drew from his Japanese roots but remained open to the French style of living and luxury. A brilliant spirit that shook up
the world of haute couture in Paris in the 1970s, with a lasting impact on the history of #fashion.

The apartment of Kenzo Takada
Having built and lived in a Japanese house near La Bastille in the 11th arrondissement, Kenzo then moved to the heart of the famous Saint Germain quarter, opposite Lutetia, to a huge apartment overlooking the whole of Paris, with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.
It was in this light-filled Haussmann apartment, re-designed with the help of his friend, the architect Ed Tuttle, that he gathered together and added to his collection over the last fifteen years of his life, making his home a haven of peace and serenity.

Acquired over many years, the furniture, paintings, objects and works of art in this collection reflect the nomadic nature of a free spirit open to influences from every corner of the world, but with a constant connection to his roots in Japan and his adopted country, France. Nearly 600 items will come under the hammer on 11 May.

Kenzo’s furniture, objects and paintings to be sold
Noteworthy items include a large wooden Hinoki horse from the Han period (estimate : 20 000 - 30 000 €), a Buddha torso dating from the 3rd century (estimate : 10 000 - 15 000€) and a Pleyel grand piano by Ruhlmann (estimate 4 000 – 6 000 €).
The lighting on offer includes an impressive crystal chandelier (estimate : 4 000 - 6 000€) that hung from the ceiling of the designer’s living room. Another highlight is the series of thirteen photographs by William Eggleston (estimate : 20 000 - 40 000 €).
There are some sixty lots of tableware, revealing the diversity of styles appreciated by #kenzotakada. In addition to his own glassware and porcelain creations, there is a selection of Japanese stoneware, Murano glassware and a Harcourt crystal service by
Baccarat, marked with the designer’s emblem. Enthusiasts and collectors 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» (estimate: 1 500 - 2 500 €) and the oil on canvas Personnage en tenue de dignitaire japonais, estimated at between 2 000 and 3 000 €.

A hundred creations by Kenzo Takada
At the same time, an Online Only sale will present more than a hundred creations from Kenzo Takada’s personal collection. Some very colourful and original wardrobe pieces, estimated at between €100 and €1,000, will be on display


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