Three Cities, One Iconic Maison: Bonhams Celebrates Chanel with Landmark Sales this September

Bonhams is set to celebrate the exceptional craftsmanship of Chanel with three landmark sales taking place across its global auction network this September. Presented in New York, Paris and London, the auctions will honour one of the world's most iconic luxury maisons, offering a curated selection of rare ready-to-wear, accessories, and costume jewellery. With designs spanning the creative tenures of Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, the sales reflect Chanel's timeless elegance, enduring appeal, and unrivalled influence in the world of luxury fashion. Founded in 1910, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel revolutionised women's fashion through refined tailoring, relaxed silhouettes and exceptional craftsmanship. Today, Chanel remains one of the world's most influential luxury maisons, with its designs highly sought after in both the primary and secondary markets. Karl Lagerfeld served as Creative Director from 1983 to 2019, revitalising the House by reinterpreting Chanel's iconic codes for a new generation. Virginie Viard succeeded him in 2019, bringing a contemporary perspective until her departure in 2024. Chanel has since entered a new creative chapter under Artistic Director Matthieu Blazy. NEW YORK – CHANEL: FROM THE VAULT II – 7 -17 SEPTEMBER New York - Chanel: From the Vault II will showcase an exceptional selection of Chanel designs, with a particular focus on vibrant tweed pieces dating from the iconic 1990s runway collections. Rich in archival significance, many of the outfits have a celebrated fashion history, with versions worn on the runway by the era's legendary supermodels, including Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington. Presented alongside highlights from the noughties collections, the sale also features a curated selection of Métiers d'Art pieces from the mid-2000s, celebrating the exceptional craftsmanship and distinctive vision of Karl Lagerfeld during his tenure as Creative Director. Ahead of the online sale, highlights will be exhibited at Bonhams' U.S. flagship at 111 West 57th Street on 17 August – 2 September, where the atrium will be transformed into the world of Chanel, offering visitors an immersive preview of the collection. The top lot is a Chanel bird cage minaudière, Metiers d'Art Paris-31 rue Cambon, Pre-Fall/Winter 2020, Look 62, by Creative Director Virginie Viard. The gold tone cage exterior featuring love bird details at a faux hinged door, is decorated with simulated turquoise, multi tone strass crystals, and CC logo details and is offered with an estimate of US$20,000-30,000. Other sale highlights include: • A Chanel small wicker CC filigree vanity case, Spring/Summer 2019, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The bag with black patent leather and natural wicker exterior with CC logo detail and silver tone hardware, is offered with an estimate of US$8,000-12,000. • A Chanel green mohair tweed plaid evening jacket, Metiers d'Art Paris-Edinburgh, Pre-Fall 2013, Look 46, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The jacket with lapels, Gripoix buttons and removable white ruffle cuffs details, is offered with an estimate of US$4,000-6,000. • A Chanel cream mohair gold embellished evening jacket, Metiers d'Art Paris-New York, pre-fall 2019, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The cream jacket with gold metallic silk threadwork, exaggerated drop waist and champagne Gripoix buttons. The design was featured in Margot Robbie's Chanel Gabrielle Essence Campaign in 2019. Offered with an estimate of US$1,200-1,800. • A Chanel silver sequin cocktail dress, Fall/Winter 1994, Look 175, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. A similar design was worn by Olivia Rodrigo to the Met Gala, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" After Party in 2023. The silver sequin dress with lace collar detail and flower pin embellishment is offered with an estimate of US$3,000-5,000. • A Chanel fully sequinned houndstooth ensemble, Spring/Summer 1984, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. Offered with an estimate of US$4,000-6,000. • A Chanel pink wool jacket and quilted taffeta skirt ensemble, Fall/Winter 1999, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The jacket was featured in the Chanel Fall/Winter 1999 campaign worn by Angela Lindvall and photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. Offered with an estimate of US$3,000-5,000. PARIS – CHANEL FROM THE VAULT PARIS EDITION – 14-24 SEPTEMBER Chanel From the Vault Paris edition will feature 400 pieces of Chanel spanning Karl Lagerfeld's iconic designs of the 1990s through to Virginie Viard's contemporary creations, while also showcasing handbags and costume jewellery, including designs from the Cruise and Métiers d'Art collections, whose distinctive designs and exceptional craftsmanship have become defining elements of the maison's identity. Sale highlights include: • A Chanel jacket, Fall/Winter 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection by the Chanel Fashion Creation Studio at the Rue Cambon. The cropped back-buttoning jacket in white tweed, trimmed with gold Lurex and embroidered with multicolored mini-pearls is offered with an estimate of €2,000-3,000. • A Chanel, Cruise 2024 collection, black knit tweed dress with multicolored sequins by Creative Director Virginie Viard. Offered with an estimate of €1,600-2,000. • A Chanel dress, Spring-Summer 2018 Ready-to-Wear collection. The cocktail dress in organza and gold lurex by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld is offered with an estimate of €1,500-2,500. • A Chanel jacket, Autumn/Winter 2019 Ready-to-Wear collection. The vermilion tweed zip-up jacket with a houndstooth pattern by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld is offered with an estimate of €1,800-2,200. • A Chanel articulated brooch with rhinestones and turquoise glass paste, highlighted with two Amphorae from the Ancient Greece Cruise Collection 2018, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. Offered with an estimate of €700-900. • A pair of Chanel, Cruise 2023 collection, shell earrings in gold-tone metal with rhinestones, by Creative Director Virginie Viard. Offered with an estimate of €400-600. • A Chanel cropped black sequined jacket from the 'Versailles' Cruise 2013 collection, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. Offered with an estimate of €1,200-1,500. • A Chanel, Cruise 2020 collection, gold-tone metal water bottle in a black lambskin case with chains by Creative Director Virginie Viard. Offered with an estimate of €4,000-6,000. • A Chanel jacket, 'Hotel Monte-Carlo Beach' Cruise 2023 collection, by Creative Director Virginie Viard. The long white tweed jacket with rhinestone buttons is offered with an estimate of €1,600-2,200. LONDON – DESIGNER HANDBAGS AND FASHION – 21 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER London - Designer Handbags and Fashion presents an exceptional private collection of vintage costume jewellery within the wider designer fashion and handbag sale, featuring an outstanding selection of Chanel jewels dating from the 1960s through to the 1990s. Showcasing iconic designs created under Karl Lagerfeld's creative direction, the collection reflects the owner's discerning eye for timeless fashion. Gabrielle Chanel revolutionised the perception of costume jewellery in the 1920s by pairing faux pearls with vibrant Gripoix glass creations. In collaboration with Maison Gripoix, the historic Parisian glass atelier, she designed bold, Byzantine-inspired pieces to complement her couture collections, challenging traditional views of elegance, redefining modern style. The aesthetic became one of Chanel's many enduring signatures and continues to inspire the Maison's jewellery collections today. Leading the sale is a Robert Goossens (1927-2016) for Chanel, Haute Couture filigree snake bangle, circa 1960. Goossens was one of the 20th century's most influential French jewelers. A master craftsman, he pioneered the fusion of fine and costume jewellery by combining precious and imitation gemstones, poured glass, and metals in innovative designs.The gilt hinged snake bracelet with graduated filigree caps and green glass eyes is offered with an estimate of £10,000-15,000. Other sale highlights include: • A pair of Chanel Fine Jewellery Collection, 18K white gold and brilliant-cut diamond Comète Géode earrings, circa 2024. The design captures the cosmic theme of stars, inspired by Gabrielle Chanel's legendary 1932 "Bijoux de Diamants" exhibition, the pieces mimic the hollow interior of a geode. Offered with an estimate of £2,000-3,000. • A pearl and cruciform necklace, Spring/Summer 1993, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The simulated pearl necklace with chunky gold tone metal clasp and open cross pendant with central CC motif is offered with an estimate of £500-800. • A Chanel black resin and gilt chain belt and brooch set, pre-fall 2018, Métiers d'Art 'Hamburg' Collection by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The gold tone chains with black resin roundels with CC button details, is offered with an estimate of £500-700. • A Chanel clear resin bead and tassel necklace, Spring/Summer 1999, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The irregular quartz-like resin beads feature silk tassels to both ends of the design with gold tone hardware, is offered with an estimate of £600-800. • Two pairs of Chanel Gripoix ear clips, Autumn/Winter 1993, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. Includes a pair with square green Gripoix and carved CC detail, and a pair of oval blue Gripoix with gold tone CC. Offered with an estimate of £500-800. • A pair of Chanel black quilted leather cuffs and a matching barrette, circa 1990s, by Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld. The quilted lambskin cuffs with red leather lining, gold tone CC twist locks and matching barrette are offered with an estimate of £500-800.