Musician and official Coolest Man Who Ever Drew Breath David Bowie passed earlier this year, setting the tone for the rest of a miserable 2016. If there’s a silver lining to Bowie’s passing, though, it’s that it’s given us a chance to fully appreciate how larger than life Bowie was. I’ve never met him and would have never met him, but Bowie helped mentor my development as an art weirdo from the time I was old enough to stick my VHS copy of Labyrinth into the player.
Above image: David Bowie is interviewed on ‘Good Morning America’ by Rona Barrett in February, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Cheers, Bowie.
When he wasn’t recording some of the best pop music ever pressed to vinyl, blowing superhuman amounts of cocaine or turning to the occult to protect himself from musical/magical rival Jimmy Page, Bowie was a patron of the arts, of Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group in particular. About 100 pieces of Bowie’s personal ceramics collection were recently auctioned off by Sotheby’s for a total sum of £1,387,000 GBP ($1,733,264 USD). From Sotheby’s:
Bowie was a voracious collector of the works of eccentric Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and the Milan-based Memphis group. The final session of the sale series will comprise pieces such as the iconic Post-Modernist ‘Casablanca’ Sideboard, from the first Memphis collection of 1981, and the unconventional record player, the RR 126 Radiophonograph, designed in 1965 by the brothers Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni for Brionvega, both of which are definitive pieces of cutting edge Italian design fitting for the most innovative and daring musician of his generation.
This is our second post about ceramic auctions from the collections of famous deceased entertainers. Click here to read about the sale of Richard Attenborough’s Picasso collection. Yes, these are sad posts, but try powering through them with your appreciation for the taste of creators you admire.
Ettore Sottsass, Two Coupes from the “Hollywood” Series, 1986, 8 1/8 inches. Estimate: £400 – £600 GBP ($503 – $754 USD). Sold: £5,000 GBP ($6,285 USD). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Two “Nilo” Vases, 1981, 12 1/4 inches height. Estimage: £600 – £800 GBP ($754 – $1,006 USD). Sold: £4,750 GBP ($5,971 USD). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Two Tigris Vases, 1983, 15 3/4 inches height. Estimate: £600 – £800 GBP ($754 – $1,006 USD). Sold: £5,625 GBP ($7,071 USD). Click to see a larger image.
Martine Bedin, Pair of Cucumber Vases, 1985, 12 1/4 x 12 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches. Estimate: £300 – £500 GBP. Sold: £6,875 ($8,642). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Two Coupes, 1958, 7 1/8 inches. Estimate: £300 – £500 GBP ($377 – $629 USD). Sold: £4,375 ($5,499). Click to see a larger image.
Click to see a larger image.
Martine Bedin, Super Lamp, 1981, 13 x 23 5/8 x 7 1/8 inches. Estimate: £250 – £350 GBP ($314 – $440 USD). Sold: £11,250 ($14,141).
George J. Sowden, Potato Serving Tray, 1985, 3 1/8 x 12 3/4 x 12 1/2 inches. Estimate: £100 – £150 GBP ($126 – $189 USD). Sold: £5,000 ($6,285). Click to see a larger image.
Matteo Thun, Danubio Vase, 1982, 21 5/8 inches. Estimate: £200 – £300 GBP ($251 – $377 USD). Sold: £5,000 ($6,285). Click to see a larger image.
Masanori Umeda, Two Orinoco Vases, 1983, 11 inches high. Estimate: £400 – £600 GBP ($503 – $754 USD). Sold: £$6,250 ($7,856). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Set of Eight Rucola Dinner Plates, 1985, 11 3/4 inches. Estimate: £400 – £600 GBP ($503 – $754 USD). Sold: £3,750 ($4,714). Click to see a larger image.
Aldo Cibic, Set of Ten Pepper Coffee Cups with Saucers, 1985, 4 inches with saucer. Estimate: £200 – £300 GBP ($251 – $377 USD). Sold: £8,125 ($10,213). Click to see a larger image.
Michele de Lucchi, Pair of Tomato Serving Plates, 1985, 14 1/8 x 11 3/4 inches. Estimate: £200 – £300 GBP ($251 – $377 USD). Sold: £4,000 ($5,028). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Set of 14 Indivia Dinner Plates, 1985, 8 1/2 inches. Estimate: £400 – £600 GBP ($503 – $754 USD). Sold: £5,000 ($6,285). Click to see a larger image.
Matteo Thun, Api Ashtray and Nefertiti Tea Set, 1981, 7 7/8 inches. Estimate: £300 – £500 GBP ($377 – $629 USD). Sold: £11,875 ($14,927). Click to see a larger image.
Maria Sanchez, Squash Ashtray, 1985, 2 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches. Estimate: £60 – £80 GBP ($75 – $101). Sold: £5,625 ($7,071). Click to see a larger image.
Nathalie du Pasquier, Onion Fruit Bowl, 1985, 3 1/8 x 12 x 9 7/8 inches. Estimate: £80 – £120 GBP ($101 – $151 USD). Sold: £5,000 ($6,285). Click to see a larger image.
Marco Zanini, Colorado Teapot, 1983, 8 1/2 x 12 x 7 1/8 inches. Estimate: £300 – £500 GBP ($377 – $629 USD). Sold: £10,625 ($13,356). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Vase, 1986, 9 1/2 x 15 inches. Estimate: £250 – £350 GBP ($314 – $440). Sold: £6,875 ($8,642). Click to see a larger image.
Masanori Umeda, Parana Fruit Bowl, 1983, 3 1/2 x 15 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches. Estimate: £200 – £300 GBP ($251 – $377 USD). Sold: £6,000 ($7,542). Click to see a larger image.
Matteo Thun, Santa Monica Pendant Light, 1983, 9 7/8 x 12 3/8 inches. Estimate: £200 – £300 GBP ($251 – $377 USD). Sold: £5,250 ($6,599). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Euphrates Vase, 1983, 15 3/8 inches. Estimate: £600 – £800 GBP ($754 – $1006 USD). Sold: £6,875 ($8,642). Click to see a larger image.
Marco Zanini, Broccoli Fruit Bowl, 1985, 5 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches. Estimate: £100 – £150 GBP ($126 – $189). Sold: £8,125 ($10,213). Click to see a larger image.
Matteo Thun, Hors D’Oeuvre set, 1982, 1 x 16 7/8 x 10 3/4 inches. Estimate: £300 – £500 GBP ($377 – $629 USD). Sold: £4,375 ($5,499). Click to see a larger image.
Ettore Sottsass, Vase, 1986, 14 1/2 inches. Estimate: £100 – £150 GBP ($126 – $189 USD). Sold: £9,375 ($11,784).
Bill Rodgers is the Managing Editor of cfile.daily.
Do you love or loathe this news from the world of contemporary ceramic art? Let us know in the comments.
I just love it when someone makes pottery like SOOOOOO like plastic toys !!!!
You have cat to be kitten me, this is freaking awesome. RIP LEGEND☇thank you CFile
I love the Memphis ceramics and own the same ones as Bowie.
Bowie had quite an eye for ceramics. (Of course, what else would one expect?) Thanks for so many great images.
Isn’t it a bit odd that every item went for 10 or even 100 times its estimate? Did one collector buy everything?
You. Are. Awesome. Loved every word! Thanks for making me smile 😉
AS I clicked on the article I was dying with curiosity to see what David had collected. I got a bit of a thrill reading that my rock hero appreciated such fine work. How cool that I had something in common with the man. What a beautiful collection. From what I have read, this is only a part of his overall collection, he was known to pop in and see what potters made in the UK, there are stories/myths.
Thank you for posting these! The New York Times article about the auction had a picture of Bowie with a pretty natty Peter Shire sofa. Go team Memphis!