LONDON.- This autumn, Sotheby’s will join forces with China’s ‘Queen of Couture’, Guo Pei. In 2015, China’s most renowned couturier shot onto the international stage when musician Rihanna chose to wear one of her designs to the Met Gala – a dramatic trailing yellow gown which sparked a global media frenzy.

A modern messenger of her cultural heritage, Guo Pei has breathed new life into embroidery and painting traditions that date back thousands of years over the course of her 30-year career. Her elaborate designs showcase the finest of traditional Chinese craftsmanship while incorporating contemporary innovation and Western style.

Over the next four months, Guo Pei will immerse her creative mind in two aspects of Sotheby’s activities that speak closely to her interests, inspirations and heritage.

In October, Guo Pei will turn her hand to curating a selection of works from the second edition of our GOLD: The Midas Touch sale in London. This auction celebrates the single metal which has compelled mankind for six millennia, building empires and destroying dynasties. The rich colours of gold and yellow, which used to be reserved for the emperor during the Qing dynasty, are a signature design element of Guo Pei’s creations, with some gowns featuring 24-carat gold thread. Alongside the selected pieces from the sale, four of the designer’s couture creations including the iconic ‘Xiao Jin’ or ‘Little Gold’ (illustrated below) will be exhibited, drawing together a passion for fine craftsmanship, shared between Guo Pei and artists from across the ages.

The global collaboration will also see Guo Pei celebrate her Chinese heritage, working together with Sotheby’s specialists during New York Asia Week in September.

Guo Pei comments, "Working with a prestigious institution like Sotheby’s has always been a wish of mine. I am thrilled to make this collaboration a reality. Through Sotheby’s, passionate art lovers will have a chance to appreciate the true value of my couture creations."

THE DRESSES
Guo Pei’s artworks are inspired by fairy tales, legends and even military history, with every creation telling a story which brings beauty, romance and the designer’s imagination to life. Fabrics, shapes and textures become a canvas to reimagine the tales which paintings have conveyed throughout the centuries.

In 2006, Guo Pei held her first couture show titled ‘Samsara’ (‘Life cycle’) during China International Fashion Week, inspired by her visit to the Musée de l'Armée in Paris. Guo Pei was struck by the intricate details and embroidered patterns of Napoleon’s military uniform, finding a sense of immortality in its layers.

The war had deprived people of their lives but, at the moment of death, the soldiers were still dressed in exquisite clothing – a dignity that deeply inspired Guo Pei. In the ‘Samsara’ collection, Guo Pei used the language of colour to interpret changes of time and essence of life cycles, ranging from subtle beige hues to deep dark blues. This show featured ‘Xiao Jin’ - loosely translated to ‘Little Gold’ which was exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, as part of the 2015 exhibition ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’.

Painstakingly crafted over 40,000 hours, this dress features metallic fibre thread and Indian metal wire embroidery. The delicate nature of this kind of embroidery thread means on average, one out of seven stiches will break – a mark of Guo Pei’s dedication to her craft. Around 300 needles were used in a day, with the working hours involved being several times more than that of standard embroidery. The embroidered pattern, inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, becomes three-dimensional by employment of various techniques, such as padded embroidery.

GOLD: THE MIDAS TOUCH
Following the success of our inaugural sale dedicated to gold last year, October 29 will see GOLD: The Midas Touch bring together works from artists and artisans across the millennia who have been enchanted by gold and its power.

A marker of wealth but also faith, a mythological but also practical material, gold has endured where other fashions have faded. In a world that speaks over 6,900 languages, the language of gold remains universal. Taking collectors on a journey through the great civilisations of the world, GOLD: The Midas Touch places sculptures next to sacred objects, contemporary painting next to ancient jewellery, presenting an unrivalled history of nature’s most bewitching creation.

The sale will encompass Contemporary Art, Russian Works of Art & Fabergé, Design, Furniture & Decorative Arts, Asian & Indian Art, Sculpture, Old Masters, Medieval Manuscripts, Watches and Jewellery. From this eclectic mix, Guo Pei will carefully curate a selection of works to stand alongside her magnificent designs.

A highlight of the 2019 the Midas Touch sale is an exceptional pair of multi-gem and gold horse heads by FrenchAmerican sculptor Herbert Haseltine. Active during the first half of the 20th Century, Haseltine was renowned for his equestrian sculptures, attracting the attention of American upper-class society. These magnificent gilded artworks were created as part of a three-year project for notorious heiress and socialite Barbara Hutton, a former wife of Hollywood actor Cary Grant. Once one of the wealthiest women in the world, Hutton was dubbed ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ after her extravagant debutante ball during the Great Depression. Dating to 1949, these opulent sculptures will be offered with an estimate of £600,000-800,000.

ASIA WEEK
This September, Sotheby’s New York will host a marquee week of exhibitions, objects and material culture, coinciding with the city-wide celebration. Now in its 11th year, the bi-annual New York Asia Week unites all facets of art from the region, ranging from ancient to contemporary. Across several auctions, Sotheby’s will offer exquisite examples of pottery, bronzes, jades, ceramics, sculptures, paintings and calligraphy.