Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Estate of Gucci Visionary Goes to Bonhams New York Auction

Bonhams New York is to present for sale European furniture, decorative arts, silver and paintings from the collection of Severin Wunderman. The driving force behind Gucci’s watch legacy, Wunderman was known as much for his keen business acumen as he was for his many social and cultural philanthropic contributions.

Wunderman’s early life was a story of surviving war and persecution. After the Nazi invasion of Belgium in 1940, Wunderman’s father paid a Catholic priest to hide Severin and two other children in the countryside. Severin was hidden in a school for the blind; after the war, he immigrated to the United States. Following many odd jobs to make ends meet, Wunderman found his calling with a job as a salesman for a European watch-making firm. A chance meeting with Aldo Gucci, led to Wunderman becoming the architect of the company’s foray into the world of fine timepieces for which they are now famous. After selling his Gucci watch business in the late 1990’s, Mr. Wunderman acquired the Swiss watch manufacturer, Corum, in 2000. He transformed the previously ailing brand and gave it the dynamic, unmistakable look for which Corum is known today, introducing the signature “bubble” watch and creating limited edition and much sought after watches such as the “Royal Flush” and “Jolly Roger”.

After having assembled one of the largest private collections of works by artist Jean Cocteau, Mr. Wunderman created the Wunderman Museum in Orange County, CA. He later donated the entire collection to the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Wunderman was also a major contributor to the Jean Cocteau Museum in Menton, France.

Mr. Wunderman’s philanthropy continued in other ways as well. He honored the famous Holocaust artist Josef Nassy’s wish to keep together memoirs and the artwork Nassy created during his time in a Nazi concentration camp. In 1984, Mr. Wunderman purchased the entire collection and in 1992 donated it all to the United States Holocaust Museum. Mr. Wunderman also created the Severin Wunderman Collection of Child Survivor Testimonies from the Holocaust, which is housed at the Shoah Foundation at the University of Southern California.

Severin Wunderman’s generosity and philanthropic goals were not limited to art and collections. He chose to give significantly and often anonymously to medical research, as well as to many other philanthropic causes, generally through the Severin Wunderman Family Foundation. Mr. Wunderman’s continuous contributions to society were officially recognized on December 31, 2004, when he was appointed Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by French President Jacques Chirac.

The Wednesday afternoon auction will feature a selection of European paintings including L’aurore, a striking mythological oil by Jean Souverbie (French, 1891-1981), executed in 1929 (est. $20,000-30,000). Also of interest will be Franz Gaillard’s large-scale depiction of La Place Sainte Giudule a Bruxelles (est. $30,000-50,000), and Moise Kisling’s Portrait of Jean Cocteau executed in pencil in 1916 (est. $10,000-15,000). Cocteau was not only a favorite artist of Wunderman’s, but also inspiration for Wunderman’s own artistic endeavors as well. Bakst’s circa 1910 Costume Design for L’Oiseau de Feu, the ballet by Igor Stravinsky choreographed by Michel Fokine, is expected to fetch $25,000-35,000.

Severin Wunderman, ever the passionate collector, surrounded himself with a large number of fascinating objects. His interests spanned many categories including ceramics, glass, silver and furniture. English majolica will be offered by such well-known makers as George Jones, Minton and Copeland. Sure to be of interest is a Minton majolica jardiniere, modeled as a putto astride a dolphin-form cornucopia, (est. $5,000-7,000). Also fascinating is a wonderful Beatrice Wood lustre-glazed earthenware sculpture of a blowfish entitled Orpheus, homage to Cocteau (est. $4,000-6,000).

English furniture highlights include a Newton’s celestial floor globe (pictured, right) and a Victorian terrestrial floor globe, each contained in mahogany stands measuring almost four feet in height (estimates $8,000-12,000 and $6,000-8,000 respectively). Several pieces dating from the late 19th century include a fine Neoclassical style gilt-bronze-mounted rosewood bookcase stamped Collinson & Locke, London (est. $7,000-9,000) and an impressive George III style inlaid mahogany secretary bookcase stamped Edwards and Roberts (est. $10,000-15,000).

In keeping with the diverse and eclectic Wunderman collecting sense, the offerings of Continental furniture range from a Dutch Rococo marquetry secretary cabinet dating from the mid-18th century (est. $15,000-20,000), to several classic French pieces including a fine Louis XVI style gilt-bronze-mounted white marble three-piece clock garniture (pictured, left) inscribed F. Linke ( est. $12,000-18,000), a Louis XVI style gilt-bronze-mounted parquetry regulateur, after a model by Jean-Henri Riesener, circa 1900 (est. $15,000-20,000) and a pair of Louis XVI style gilt-bronze-mounted mahogany pedestals by Paul Sormani (est. $6,000-8,000).

Silver highlights include an impressive Elizabeth II silver flatware set fashioned in the highly desirable Couburg pattern. The service, boasting settings for 24 (324 pieces total) is estimated at $20,000-25,000. A fine 1891 Elkington & Co. sterling silver centerpiece created in the Rococo taste will also be of interest to collectors.

Proceeds of the sale will benefit the Severin Wunderman Foundation.

“Mr. Wunderman’s refined style and intuitive artistic sensibilities are clearly apparent in his collecting,” states Director of Bonhams New York, Jon King. “This is an exciting opportunity for both Bonhams and collectors.”

The illustrated auction catalog is online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com/usfurniture. Previews open at Bonhams New York on Saturday May 2nd – continuing daily until the auction.