Remembering the Exceptional Furniture Collection by David Bowie

Remembering the Exceptional Furniture Collection by David Bowie ⇒ On 11th November 2016, London was the centre stage for the presentation of the David Bowie’s exceptional furniture collection at Sotheby’s, which was kept private for some time until later that year. The late musician was a devoted yet discrete collector to works by Italian Designer Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group, based in Milan, Italy, and today, CovetED will remember this unique collection of furniture designs.

⇒ Subscribe our Newsletter and be up-to-date with CovetED Magazine ⇐

david bowie

The collection is composed of over 100 pieces and the costs are expected to be in a range between £60 and £7000. Bowie was born and raised in South of London and he has studied art, music and design before he decided for a professional career as a musician in 1963. Adam Trunoske, the Sotheby’s furniture expert, said that Bowie’s collection is one of the most impressive and extensive in the world, it also includes also some fashion design works by Karl Lagerfeld and Dennis Zanone.

“The Memphis designers flipped things on their head, and Bowie was always changing things up,” said Adam Trunoske, as he adds: “What I love is that Bowie kept this collection private and really wants to keep this to himself and have fun. I think that really says a lot about Bowie.”

⇒ See Also: MEET OBAMA’S PRIVATE HOME INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE ⇐

Ettore Sottsass, Casablanca Sidetable

“The works produced by the historical avant-garde design collaborative Memphis Milano, led by Ettore Sottsass, could not have found a more receptive and tuned-in audience than David Bowie,” said Cécile Verdier, Co-Worldwide Head of 20th Century Design at Sotheby’s.

Ettore Sottsass, Vases

She then proceeded to say: “This is design with no limits and no boundaries. When you look at a piece of Memphis design, you see their unconventionality, the kaleidoscope of forms and patterns, the vibrant contrasting colours that really shouldn’t work but really do.”

Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni, Brionvega Radiophonograph, Model No. Rr126

David Bowie had a kind of obsession with Memphis Design, founded by Ettore Sottsass in the early 1980s, and with its designs which completely stood out the typical art world.

Peter Shire, Bel Air Armchair

Ettore Sottsass, Ashoka Lamp

“He was always kind of changing his style throughout the years and he was never quite the same person, and these pieces really reflected him because they polarised audiences when they came out,” concluded Adam Trunoske.