Japanese design auction

“Connect Auction” is the first design auction focused on furniture design in Japan. There are Art auctions in Japan, but there was’t anything that’s focused on furniture design. The idea behind is to promote design items, which are often underestimated compared to art especially in the Japanese market.

For example, the image below is a wire wove sofa called “How High the Moon” by Siro Kuramata, one of the most well-known Japanese product designers. It was released in 1986.

Below is “No.28” by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garcons, which is one of the most recognized fashion brands in the world. Apparently, she has designed 28 pieces of furniture in the 80s.

The bids for the Comme des garcons chair started at 300,000 yen or about $3000, and it was sold at 800,000 yen or $8000.Apparently, Japanese people are not so used to the auction system, so the value of each item is often under-estimated. For example, Siro Kuramata’s similar sofa, which is considered less valuable than the one above, was sold at 9,000,000 yen or $90,000 in an auction abroad.

via: excite.ism