Sale of the week: Lacroix atelier furniture

Christian Lacroix was among the brightest stars within the fashion firmament when he opened his original atelier in 1987 about the ground floor of a sumptuous Parisian town house in rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The look of the location had to become in maintaining with his striking couture creations, so he chose the renowned interior decorators Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti to create a Baroque “theatre of fashion” filled with opulent furnishings set against richly coloured walls and bright floor coverings.

Inspiration came from objects for example the “mask” wall lights that Garouste and Bonetti had created for that jet-setter’s nightclub Le Privilege and, in contrast, in the simplest forms of nature such as tree branches and foliage. For a lot more than two decades, the atelier hosted high-profile Christian Lacroix clients including Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Christina Aguilera and Madonna before last year’s recession forced the brand’s owner, US retailer the Falic Group, to close down the haute couture side of the business. Now, in what Sotheby’s describes since the first sale of an “oeuvre d’art totale” from the second half of the 20th century, the contents with the atelier will be dispersed in this 100-lot auction that could realise as much as €400,000.

Highlights: The star whole lot may have limited appeal because it comprises a pair of filigree-pattern iron gates and an arched best with a combined height of more than 18ft. The gates, which graced the front of the atelier, are estimated at €20,000-€30,000 while a 16ft sofa in the “grand salon” is expected to fetch up to €15,000. Much more manageable objects consist of several with the famous gilded bronze wall lights in the form of grotesque masks (€10,000-€15,000) and some distinctive wood cabinets adorned with lacquered sycamore branches (€4,000-€6,000).

Also up for grabs are tree-trunk stools, a wood and wrought-iron fitting room complete with curtains, mirrors and lights, and chairs and banquettes upholstered in acid-coloured fabrics. The clothes racks that as soon as held a few of the excellent Lacroix creations are also on offer, as well since the handles from the glass front door, some metal drinks trays and even the waste paper bin – which can be, of course, remarkably stylish.

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