Rivich to host Nov. 17-18 auction of top designer fashion plus Western to Mid-Century art, furniture and ‘the unexpected’ from fine Chicago-area estates

Featured: Mies van der Rohe’s own modernist apartment lamp with direct family provenance

CHICAGO – Widely known as the Midwest’s favorite source for artsy, outside-the-box antiques and estate goods, Chicago’s Rivich Auction has just posted its online catalogs for an exciting November 17-18 sale with selections to please every holiday shopper. Day one will focus exclusively on vintage fashions from Chanel, Gucci and other premier designers, while day two offers a selection of Western to Mid-Century art, furniture and many “quirky but cool” items that even the savviest person shopper would never find in brick-and-mortar stores.

More than 120 lots of high-end designer clothing from an estate on Chicago’s prestigious North Shore will be offered on November 17. It’s a stylish mix of 1970s through 1990s daywear, after-five dresses, and outerwear, with many garments displaying the labels of such coveted brands as Chanel, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and Christian Dior. Several pairs of designer shoes (Manolo Blahnik, Prada, Louboutin), handbags and accessories will be up for bid, as well as a variety of menswear, neckties and gentlemen’s hats; and even a collection of vintage children’s clothing.

To many collectors, vintage fashion starts and ends with one name: Chanel. The effortless chic of Coco Chanel’s designs and the quality of the fabrics, buttons and trims she chose have made her apparel timeless. To this day, Chanel’s sought-after classics are found in the wardrobes of some of the world’s most elegant women.

More than a dozen lots of vintage Chanel creations highlight the sale. They include a Chanel Boutique pastel tweed skirt suit, size 36; a quilted silk blouse with black bow and “pearl” buttons paired with a flapper-style silk skirt, size 38; and a navy blue striped silk dress with tie belt. Each is estimated at $100-$5,000. 

Who will be the next to steal the spotlight in a 1980s Oscar de la Renta party dress in figure-hugging black velvet with cap sleeves and a purple overlay skirt? Any serious fashionista who looks at this stunning creation is sure to recall a similar dress – and style – made famous by Princess Diana. Ready for the spotlight, the de la Renta is estimated at $100-$5,000. A second evening dress of quintessential ‘80s style, also by Oscar de la Renta is all black with oversize puffed sleeves, a dropped waistline and a layered, ruffled skirt. Estimate $100-$5,000

A $100-$5,000 estimate also applies to several other lots, including a vintage Gucci tweed blazer, a Burberry gold metallic coat, and a grouping of five vintage double-breasted plaid ladies coats and jackets, one with a Marshall Fields tag. 

On November 18, Rivich will pivot to a 188-lot session titled “American Standard: Western to Mid-Century.” The lineup features an eclectic selection of items from multiple estates in the Chicagoland area and crosses many periods and categories, from vintage advertising signs and antique machinery with a steampunk flavor, to paintings and 20th-century decorative art.

The star of the day’s offerings is unquestionably the Mid-Century “pot lamp” designed, owned and used by the great architect and designer Mies van der Rohe (German/American, 1886-1969). Used as atmospheric lighting for many years in van der Rohe’s Chicago apartment, it was later passed down to his architect grandson, Dirk Lohan, FAIA. In the accompanying written provenance, Lohan says of the lamp: “It was quite unique as no one else had such lighting. These ‘pots’ could easily be hidden behind furniture or located in less-trafficked areas of the space. They rendered sufficient and glare-free light on the ceiling and, I assume, he originally selected them because he did not have to do major electrical and redecorating work in his apartment.” The lamp is presented with a $1,000-$2,000 estimate.

Also ready to adorn new domestic surroundings are a pair of Kaare Klint for Rasmussen Safari Chairs, estimate $1,000-$2,000; and a signed Christian Liaigre lamp that measures 23½ inches to the top of its 12-inch-diameter shade. In excellent condition, this attractive lamp is estimated at $750-$1,500.

Three fine bronze sculptures with a Western theme would make ideal holiday gifts for anyone who adorns the traditional study or office with manly artworks. Two of the bronzes are by D. Michael Thomas, an award-winning sculptor from Buffalo, Wyoming, whose works are characterized by their extraordinarily lifelike qualities. 

Thomas’ flawless replication of equine anatomy and musculature can be seen in a sculpture of a running horse, saddled but without a rider. Signed and numbered 23/38, it is estimated at $1,500-$3,000. A second Thomas bronze titled “On Deck,” which depicts a saddle horse atop a rotating wood base, is also artist-signed and carries a $1,000-$2,000 estimate. Also adding Old West atmosphere, a David G. Argyle bronze of a tooled and concho-decorated saddle is 18 inches tall on its wood base and is expected to make $750-$1,500.

For the person who has everything, Rivich suggests unique antiques as holiday gifts, like a William Perring & Co. Ltd., “Metro” antique cast-iron paper press that was made in Neasden, a northwestern borough of London. This industrial marvel of its day has a pre-sale estimate of $3,500-$5,000. Another fine choice is a circa-1890 oak tri-fold tailor’s mirror that stands more than 6 feet wide when fully opened. Estimate: $500-$1,000 

Rivich Auction’s Nov. 17-18 sale will start at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT on both days. View the fully illustrated catalog and bid absentee or live online via LiveAuctioneers. More than 95% of the lots to be auctioned are entered with no reserve. For additional details about any item in the auction, call Rivich Auction at 219-765-8219 or email r[email protected]. Visit them online at www.rivichauction.com. 

Editors: View full catalog online at: 

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/4409/rivich-auction/