COLOGNE.- Karl Lagerfeld has been fascinating audiences for more than five decades, and his influence and aura can be felt far beyond the realm of luxury fashion, a world which he helped shape and globalise, turning his name and style into a multi-faceted brand. As well as being a key figure in the luxury industry, he was a legendary style icon, avid photographer and illustrator, passionate collector and eloquent writer.

In the upcoming months, Sotheby's will present the Gesamtkunstwerk "Karl Lagerfeld", the final series of sales from the late designer’s Estate. The collection on offer is as multi-layered and surprising as Karl Lagerfeld himself - ingenious, knowing and self-deprecating at the same time, telling the story of a creative genius and visionary, a passionate collector with an enduring love for art and design.

On 4 and 5 May 2022, Sotheby’s will hold two live auctions of 300 lots in its magnificent new German headquarters at the Palais Oppenheim in Cologne, marking the first live sale held by Sotheby’s in the city since opening its new space there last year. A further 250 lots will be open for online bidding at Sothebys.com/KARL between 29 April and 6 May 2022.

The sales follow the conclusion of the hugely successful Monaco and Paris KARL auction series which achieved a staggering combined result of €18.2 million - four times the pre- auction estimate - in Autumn 2021.

The Estate of Karl Lagerfeld, Part III

The exquisite selection of objects on offer in Cologne comes primarily from Lagerfeld’s residence in Louveciennes. The 18th-century villa near Versailles was intended as a declaration of love for his German roots and furnished with advertisements and furniture from his homeland, covering various eras and styles. He placed a special emphasis on early 20th-century German art, including a significant collection of German advertising posters that Lagerfeld collected for thirty years which is likely to be particularly coveted by collectors, as well as furniture from 1920s Germany by the architect and furniture designer Bruno Paul.




In addition, the collection includes furnishings, curiosities and Karl Lagerfeld's personal objects, such as gifts from his friends, memorabilia, home textiles, fashion drawings and, of course, his main passion - fashion, including his suit jackets, loafers and his unmistakable accessories: fingerless gloves, dark sunglasses and fans.

The auction will also showcase an ensemble of the accessories of Choupette - the designer’s cat with whom he spent the last eight years of his life. Highlights include a letter written by Brigitte Bardot to Choupette, a cat tree and cat wheel with pedestal, as well as her bowl. Also on offer will be a selection of Ipods, within which are recorded the musical tastes of the late designer.

In total, the Cologne sales will comprise 550 lots and feature items for every taste, with estimates ranging from €10 to €80,000. The pre-auction estimate for the entire auction offering is in the region of €700,000.

Prior to the auctions, a diverse array of objects and memorabilia will be presented in a travelling public exhibition at Sotheby's galleries in Munich and Vienna as well as at Palais Oppenheim in Cologne, giving collectors an insight into the boundless diversity of the assortment on offer.

Palais Oppenheim, Köln

Last September, Sotheby's inaugurated Palais Oppenheim with the introduction of online auctions to the German art market, building on the company's more than 50-year history in Germany as the only international auction house to hold sales in the country.

Located on the banks of the Rhine in Cologne, Palais Oppenheim, Sotheby's new headquarters in Germany, is a magnificent villa built in 1908 on Gustav-Heinemann-Ufer in the Bayenthal district. With its spacious Bel Étage measuring approximately 700㎡, the former palace provides the perfect backdrop for exhibitions of works of art and luxury items, auctions and events, as well as for valuations of art and luxury items, including jewels and wristwatches, in a private setting.

Cologne has now become Sotheby's sixth auction location in Europe, alongside London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich and Milan. In addition to Cologne, Sotheby's continues to be represented with offices in Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt/Main and Berlin.