Bonhams Modern Design Auction in LA Includes 35 Lots Consigned by Actor Jim Carrey

Bonhams Modern Design and Art sale later this month will feature 35 lots from the personal collection of actor Jim Carrey.

The furniture pieces includes items by French sculpture artists Philipe Hiquily and Jean-Claude Farhi, Dutch experimental designer Joris Laarman, British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, and Belgian bronze specialist Paula Swinnen.

“It’s been my very good fortune to be surrounded by many of the finer things in life and I’m always gratified when it’s time to let them go so that others may enjoy them as well,” the Canadian-American star of Liar Liar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Bruce Almighty, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind said in a press statement.  

Laarman’s carved marble Cumulus Table (2010) is the top valued lot among the actor’s collection, with an estimate of $60,000 to 80,000. 

A brass, steel and cowhide armchair designed by Hiquily in 1971, as well as a gilt-bronze console table designed by Hiquily and Farhi in 1968, both carry an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.

The auction house was approached several months ago by Carrey’s advisors in a “very collaborative process” during the latter stage of the acquisition process to determine what would be consigned for the sale on July 25, the auction house said.

Bonhams Director of Modern Decorative Art + Design Jason Stein told ARTnews the opportunity was compelling because of his own love for many of the pieces and admiration for Carrey’s work. “It was much faster than usual, but it was very focused, chatting every day back and forth, looking at different pieces and just working closely with his his team,” Stein said.

When Stein saw Carrey had the Hiquily chair, Lot 127, one of his favorite designers, he was personally super excited. “My eyes opened up,” he said with a big smile on his face.

Stein also highlighted McQueen’s 15-feet-by-17-feet hand-woven silk, metallic thread, and cashmere Hummingbird Rug with an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000 and Rei Kawakubo‘s No. 9 Chair (circa 1987) for the designer’s label Comme des Garçons.

“It’s an auction that has a couple of lots that are by fashion designers, but working in a different way,” Stein said.

In addition to furniture designs, Carrey consigned two pieces of art: the artist’s proof for David Hockney‘s lithograph Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (1980) with an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000 and Kenny Scharf’s oil painting Ice Mont Ster (2014) with an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

Carrey’s collection also includes photographs by Jacques Lowe, Astrid Kirchherr, Richard Misrach, as well as images of Bob Dylan by Danny Lyon, and a portrait photo of John Lennon by Paul Saltzman.

In terms of expected sales, Bonhams projects the Jim Carrey Modern Art and Design Collection to fetch over $250,000. Stein said a single-owner collection like this, with its level of personality and fresh-to-market items, will be less likely to follow the tepid auction sales results in Hong Kong, New York, and London. “I think it’s different in the decorative art and design sector,” he said, noting he was getting good interest in condition reports and early inquiries as of July 10. “I’m seeing nice buzz early out.”

The one piece Stein wishes he could acquire for his own home is Lot 120: the Borghese Sofa designed in 2018 by French interior and product designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance. “It’s the coolest object,” he said. “It’s beautiful in every direction. I love it. It’s organic. It’s modern. It has great personality. That’s what I would go after.”

The Bonhams Modern Design and Art auction will take place on July 25 at 10am Pacific in Los Angeles.