Bill Blass Style 'at auction'

I have always liked the fashion designs of Bill Blass - classic and simple with gorgeous details. His apartment in New York designed with the help of Chessy Rayner and Mica Ertugun of the interior design firm MAC II reflect the same aesthetic.

All photos via Home Design Ideas blog

The furniture is very Regency in style and the decorative details are wonderfully classic, like globes, architectural models, and columns. The apartment is masculine, but not so much so that I couldn't move right in! I wouldn't change a thing. 

I thought I'd look at auctions to find a few things that Bill would like if he were still with us!

Stair Galleries in Hudson, NY has an auction November 4th at 6pm English, Continental and American antiques. If Bill were here he'd love this Empire style table. This is Lot 29, and is made of Kingwood, tulipwood, and has gilt-metal mounts and is part-ebonized. The classic decoration with the heads holding up the top make this a piece that could grace a smaller entyway, or a living room. This has an auction estimate of $700 - $900.

This chair exudes chic! This is an Italian late Neoclassical style part-ebonized, parcel gilt, carved mahogany curule form chair. This is Lot 39 in the Stair auction, and has an auction estimate of $400 - $600. The arms topped with eagle and rams heads, with hoofed feet tick all the classical style boxes. 

You will notice in the Bill Blass apartment that he has a number of bronze sculptures and classical marble busts. This bronze pacing lion would fit in perfectly. This is included in the Christie's NY auction titled '500 Years of Decorative Arts Europe', which is being held November 22nd. This is Lot 3 and measures 4 1/2 inches tall and 7 inches long. It's 19th century Italian, and has an auction estimate of $2,000 - $3,000.

The Christie's sale has a lot of beautiful antique furniture, much of which fit better in the collectors range for prices. This early 19th century pair of Restauration mahogany chairs would work in Bill's apartment nicely without totally breaking the bank. They are Lot 363 and have an auction estimate of $3,000 - $5,000

Bonhams has an evocatively named auction coming up November 16th in NY - The Gentleman's Library. Doesn't that just speak to the Bill Blass stye! You will notice in the last photo that Bill loved architectural models, and the Bonhams auction includes a lot with two of them. How perfect. These are Lot 2010, made of mahogany with an auction estimate of $1,000 - $1,500.

You will also notice globes as decoration in Bill's apartment. This armillary has the classical style, and might be even more decorative! This is in the Bonhams auction, Lot 2018 with an auction estimate of $600 - $800. It measures 22 1/2 inches tall.

Bill Blass had a pair of lovely Regency chaise longue in his living room. Similar ones can often be found at auction. This one was sold at a Bonhams auction for $1,500.







The Bill Blass style is classic, clean and modern in feel.  His look can be recreated at auction from the furniture to the decorative details, and the thrill of the hunt will add to the fun!