Christie's Announces Sale of Susan Gutfreund Jewels Designed During Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel Era

Details: Category: Art, Museums, Galleries; Published on Saturday, 02 January 2021 14:23; Written by Janet Walker

Christie's announces the dedicated online auction Susan and Karl: Important Chanel Fashion Jewelry from The Collection of Mrs. John H. Gutfreund (January 14-29), featured as part of the landmark interiors collection sale of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Gutfreund.

Spanning over 100 intricate creations, the Chanel jewels featured in this online auction provide a glimpse into the golden era of Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel.

The exquisite collection of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Gutfreund exemplify Mrs. Gutfreund's deep appreciation of French culture extended to a love of couture and in particular designs from the house of Chanel.

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Susan Gutfreund was a friend to many of the most celebrated couturiers. She shared a close friendship with renowned designer Karl Lagerfeld from whom came an incredible selection of costume jewelry made for the Chanel runway.

Intricately designed and incredibly rare, these unique jewels are pieces of fashion history created as part of a vision for Lagerfeld's iconic years at the helm of Chanel. Many of these pieces are prototypes unique and never offered for sale or seen by the public. The striking, storied jewels of Mrs. Gutfreund reflect her cultured taste and trained eye.

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Claibourne Poindexter, Specialist for Christie's Jewels, comments: "For collectors and enthusiasts of the house of Chanel, this online sale comprises perhaps the greatest single owner collection of Lagerfeld era Chanel jewelry to ever be presented at auction. What makes this collection truly unique, is that the majority of the jewels in Mrs. Gutfreund's collection were created as prototypes and in some cases, are one-of-a-kind examples completely fabricated by hand to be worn on the runway in Paris. These jewels provide a window into the world of haute couture in the 1980's and 1990's, representing a time where fashion could be over the top in the greatest way possible. You can get a great sense of Karl Lagerfeld's sense of fun and Mrs. Gutfreund's impeccable eye, whether it is a pair of earrings shaped like fine French silver plates or simulating antique wax seals. These pieces are impossibly brilliant and cheeky at the same time."

The Collection of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Gutfreund 834 Fifth Avenue presents an unparalleled collection of fine and decorative art, jewels, and books to be offered across live auctions (January 26-27) and online sales (January 14-29) at Christie's New York.

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John and Susan Gutfreund's spectacular apartment in the Rosario Candela designed building at 834 Fifth Avenue was a legendary New York interior. Working initially in collaboration with the celebrated French designer Henri Samuel the apartment was transformed by Susan Gutfreund into a dazzling setting for entertaining.

The resulting tour de force was a breathtaking enfilade of rooms including the iconic Winter Garden salon where objects with prolific histories, incomparable provenances and refined taste all intermingled.