Kenzo's art collection brings $3M at auction

The personal collection of Japanese designer Kenzo Takada, which ranged from rare Japanese laquers to Hopi Indian dolls, has sold for $1.9 million euros ($3 million Cdn).

The collection of 1,043 items was auctioned over two days in Paris, although about one quarter of the lots remained unsold when the auction ended Friday.However, the total proceeds from the auction were within estimates.

Takada, 70, had collected art and artifacts over the last 20 years, but announced his decision to sell it two months ago, because he planned to move from a house to a smaller apartment in Paris.

An 8th-century gold statue from present-day Cambodia sold for 108,500 ($171,400), well over the estimate of 80,000.

Other significant sales:

• 64,000 ($101,000) for a Buddha from the ancient Pagan empire.
• 10,000 ($15,800) for the Hopi Indian dolls.
• 19,000 ($28,400) for a rare antique kimono.

Among the lots that failed to sell were a Han wooden horse and Japanese Negoro lacquer pieces from the 1500s.

Takada became an influential designer on the Paris fashion scene in the 1970s. His brand has been owned by French luxury goods company LVMH since 1993. He retired 10 years ago.

More than 3,000 people viewed his collection at the Paris home he had specially designed in the Japanese style after he announced his plan to auction it off.

"I am upset to part with these objects,"Takada said prior to the sale. "But really now I have decided to turn the page and sell everything."

An unnamed French television producer who acquired Takada's home was among the bidders, who included private collectors from throughout Europe.