Auction of Karl Lagerfeld Memorabilia Yields 1.1M Euros

LAGERFELD FOREVER: “The magic of Karl Lagerfeld remains very much alive,” Pierre Mothes, vice president of Sotheby’s Paris, declared following the Jan. 31 auction of the late German designer’s sketches, clothing and personal effects.

Indeed, the sale yielded 1.1 million euros, nearly 10 times the high estimate, with 100 percent of the lots sold, and 94 percent of them surpassing their high estimates.

A pair of fingerless Chanel gloves, and a single Causse driving mitten worn by the designer fetched 5,760 euros, nearly 20 times the high estimate, while a set of 24 porcelain plates from Meissen went for 102,000 euros, more than 127 times the high estimate.

This was the fifth dispersement of Lagerfeld’s personal collection, attracting nearly 700 auction participants and nearly 5,000 bids, according to Sotheby’s.

Mothes noted the latest sale “paid a more intimate tribute to this visionary and hypermnesic designer. Buyers had the opportunity to rediscover his creative studio, along with Karl’s meticulously preserved archives and inspirational scrapbooks.”

For Lagerfeld, sketching came as naturally as breathing, and a pad of paper, pencils and Shu Uemura makeup for hand-coloring were never far from his fingers.

A sketch titled “Baz & Karl & The White Dress, 2004,” sold for 24,000 euros, more than 80 times its high estimate, while “La Victoire de Gianni” went for 60,000 euros, 75 times its high estimate.

The designer, who shed more than 60 pounds to shimmy into the slim tailoring by his great friend Hedi Slimane, also snapped up the designer’s minimalist furniture from 2007. A pair of benches sold for 33,600 euros, more than 11 times the high estimate.

Following Lagerfeld’s death in February 2019, Sotheby’s held a series of auctions focused on the contents of the designer’s various apartments, including furniture, artworks and luxury automobiles.