FEATURES ARCHIVE

Paul Goldberger once said that Jed Johnson, “believed in the power of objects - but never fell pray to the cult of the perfect object or to the belief that beautiful things are all that is needed to make life worthwhile”. It is exactly this which makes this sale not merely an opportunity to possess an aesthetic, but rather an opportunity to obtain a lifestyle. Indeed, it is a stylish lifestyle but it also echoes a life of style and the day-to-day pleasure of living with such pieces.

In Johnson’s short lifetime (he was killed in 1996 when his aircraft exploded off the coast of New York) he made a huge impression on many people. Once living and working with Andy Warhol, and becoming an instrumental part of the young crowd at the pulse of the art scene in the 1960s, it is evident in his successes that his classic sensitivity to beauty, fine creativity and simply impeccable taste override any changing fashions. Pierre Bergé, who commissioned Johnson on his very first job, said of the space created around him at the time, “I had the feeling I was living in a magical place”. It is that which this sale promises, that sense of harmony in an essentially eclectic world.

Placing any gentleman leagues ahead of his contemporaries, this extraordinary collection presents exceptional flair. Here is that tremendous combination; impressive, aesthetically pleasing works of art that serve as the very best of talking points. From collections of chic Dunhill and Cartier lighters and other elaborate smoking companions, such as a Russian’s smoker’s compendium, two Russian trompe l’oeil cigar boxes and a variety of ashtrays, to a Cartier watch once owned by Andy Warhol and chic fountain pens; each lot has eye-catching, if not breath-taking potential.

The chrome-plated air missile, the ejection seat and the near lifesized automaton are the ultimate accessories for the perfect lifestyle; a life where excellence, flamboyance and decadence are everyday words.