Venture into Pauline Karpidas' London residence, a trove brimming with artistic and design relics.
Pauline Karpidas' Eclectic Art and Design Collection to be Auctioned at Sotheby's
Pauline Karpidas, a British art collector and patron, was born in Manchester but her passion for art and design took her on a journey that led her to become one of the most influential collectors of Surrealist art and design.
Born in Manchester, Karpidas discovered Surrealist painters after visiting the home of Greek gallerist Alexander Iolas in Athens. This mentorship greatly influenced her collecting trajectory, and she became a patron and friend to several artists, including Warhol, Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, Paloma Picasso, Ernst, and Peggy Guggenheim.
Karpidas' collection is a testament to her vision and passion, featuring works from notable artists such as Max Ernst, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Hans Bellmer, Yves Tanguy, Leonora Carrington, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons. The collection also includes pieces from designers and sculptural artists like The Lalannes (Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne), Mattia Bonetti, and André Dubreuil.
One of the highlights of Karpidas' collection is a butterfly chandelier by Les Lalanne, with an estimated price of £150,000, and an owl-adorned bed by the same duo, expected to fetch over £200,000. Other pieces by Les Lalanne in the sale include a monkey table, a bronze Ganesh, and various furniture and jewellery.
Many pieces by Les Lalanne, featured in Karpida's London home, have not been seen before in the market. A pair of bright blue Hervé Van Der Straeten lamps flank a Mattia Bonetti bed of the same hue in Karpidas' collection. Bespoke pieces by Mattia Bonetti include mirrored frames for Karpidas' living room windows, a set of ten dining chairs, and a library.
The upcoming sale will feature most of the contents of Karpidas' London home, including bespoke design commissions created for the space. The full collection will be viewable from 8-16 September 2025 before the auction at Sotheby's 34-35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA.
Jodi Pollack, Sotheby's chairman and co-worldwide head of 20th Century Design, describes Karpidas as a true visionary who champions living with art and design in dialogue. Karpidas sees herself as a temporary custodian for the artworks and believes it's the right moment for them to find their next generation of custodians.
This extraordinary and comprehensive collection, considered one of the greatest Surrealist assemblages of its time, is being auctioned at Sotheby’s London with an expected record value exceeding $81 million.
[1] Artnet News. (2021, September 1). Pauline Karpidas's Surrealist Art and Design Collection to be Auctioned at Sotheby's. [online] Available at: https://news.artnet.com/market/pauline-karpidas-surrealist-art-design-collection-sothebys-1845737
[2] The Art Newspaper. (2021, September 1). Pauline Karpidas's Surrealist collection to be sold at Sotheby's. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/market/pauline-karpidas-surrealist-collection-to-be-sold-at-sothebys
[3] The Telegraph. (2021, September 1). Pauline Karpidas's Surrealist collection to be sold at Sotheby's. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/artnews/9957725/Pauline-Karpidas-Surrealist-collection-to-be-sold-at-Sothebys.html
[4] The Guardian. (2021, September 1). Pauline Karpidas's Surrealist collection to be sold at Sotheby's. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/sep/01/pauline-karpidas-surrealist-collection-to-be-sold-at-sothebys
[5] The New York Times. (2021, September 1). Pauline Karpidas's Surrealist Collection to be Auctioned at Sotheby's. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/arts/design/pauline-karpidas-surrealist-collection-sothebys.html
