Tony Duquette

Photo Tour: Bonhams & Butterfields Media Preview of Fall Auctions

I headed to the Bonhams & Butterfields Los Angeles location with one mission, see the hat. After all, there are only so many chances in life to see a striking blue hat covered with opals and expected to sell in the six figures. But there was a lot more to see, the preview was actually a three auction media preview with examples of exotic opals, 20th Century design, historic first edition books, maps, manuscripts, and photographs.

One of the most amazing parts of the preview (aside from the hat of course) was the display of a one-of-a-kind Tented Room designed by the late designer Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson. The room was originally assembled for a California home in the late 1990s and reproduced here. According to Jason Stein, Specialist 20th Century Decorative Arts, Bonhams & Butterfields, this is the first time that a complete Duquette/Wilkinson creation of this type has been offered at public auction. The pieces will be sold consecutively during the auction on October 5 at Bonhams & Butterfields. Items of note include four Indian peacock mixed metal chairs inspired by the Peacock Throne of Shiva in Jaipur (estimated at $5,000-$8,000); four octagonal Indian painted wood side tables (estimated at $800-$1200) and eight black painted metal and hubcap sunburst wall decorations being sold in pairs at $3,000 to $5,000 per set. Click through for more highlights from the auction preview.

Tags: bonhams, bonhams and butterfields, Bonhams Butterfields, BonhamsAuction, Tony Duquette

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Tony Duquette Rug Collection Launched by Roubini

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

"They are crazy rugs but that's what I like," says Michael Roubini of Roubini Rugs. Since 1985, his family's rug company has been partnering with designers to create special collections. Being Italian, they started with some of their favorite Italian designers such as Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Versace and Fornasetti. Last week they added a new, bold-faced name to their list of collaborators.

A reception at the company's New York showroom launched its newest line in partnership with the Tony Duquette company. Duquette (above right), who designed sets for Fred Astaire musicals, jewelry for Tom Ford and costumes for Broadway plays, in addition to a host of lavish interiors, passed away in 1999, but his business partner of 25 years, Hutton Wilkinson (above left) has carried on the venerable "More is More" mantra of the interior design business.

Gallery: Tony Duquette Rug Collection by Roubini

Tags: baker furniture, BakerFurniture, fornasetti, jim thompson, roberto cavalli, RobertoCavalli, roubini rugs, RoubiniRugs, tom ford, TomFord, tony duquette, tony duquette company, tony duquette fabric, tony duquette rugs, TonyDuquetteCompany, TonyDuquetteFabric, TonyDuquetteRugs, versace

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The Over-the-Top World of Tony Duquette

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry, Books

The over-the-top world of the late L.A.-based artist and designer Tony Duquette, creative Svengali to some of the most renowned Hollywood celebrities and tastemakers of the 20th century, is beautifully presented in a new book aptly titled More Is More by his longtime associate Hutton Wilkinson. With a foreword by another master of stylish excess, Dior designer John Galliano, the book explores Duquette's personal philosophy and the artistic credo that inspired him to create his fantastic artwork, sculptures, jewelry, gardens, and luxurious, theatrical interiors. Wilkinson provides a privileged glimpse into Duquette's fascinating private life, showing him at work in the studio, at the lavish celebrity-packed parties he and his wife held at Dawnridge, their eye-popping Beverly Hills estate, and on his whirlwind international tours.

Tags: Hollywood, interior design, InteriorDesign, John Galliano, JohnGalliano, Tony Duquette, TonyDuquette

Tony Duquette Pearl and Diamond Necklace

by Dakota Smith (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

This shopping section of this week's issue of New York magazine highlights a pretty amazing pearl and diamond necklace by legendary decorator Tony Duquette. The bib-style necklace contains 62 Baroque South Sea pearls and 29 carats of diamonds, and is set in white gold. Duquette, who decorated homes for J. Paul Getty and the Duchess of Windsor, died in 1999; the line of one-of-a-kind Duquette pieces is actually created by Hutton Wilkinson, his business partner. This necklace is available exclusively at New York's Bergdorf Goodman for a whopping $227,675.