Hugh Hefner’s chair to be auctioned off this weekend 2
Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner and his iconic velvet chair. Hefner’s photo by Fred Prouser, File Photo, Reuters. Image of chair courtesy of Leon Gallery
Culture

Hugh Hefner’s chair up for bids at this weekend’s Leon auction

Two more American icons grace the list of Sunday’s picks of vintage furniture
ANCX Staff | Jan 28 2022

There’s an absolute wealth of treasures that await collectors of santos, vintage furniture and various curios this Sunday, Day 3 of Leon Gallery’s first online auction for 2022. 

Chairs, for one, abound and come from different eras and style movements. But one particular chair stands out from the rest: the Hugh Hefner chair. It’s a wingback style hall chair in walnut with a burnt orange velvet upholstered seat, arms and back, reminiscent of the color of the man’s iconic satin robe. 

Hugh Hefner Chair
Lot 1283. Hugh Hefner’s high backed carved walnut velvet upholstered hall chair, a wingback style hall chair with burnt orange velvet upholstered seat, arms, and back. 53” x 26 1/2” 19” (135 cm x 67 cm x 48 cm)   

According to the catalogue notes, the chair, which has a starting price of P200,000, was once a fixture in Hefner’s famous Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, scene of many well-documented Hollywood parties. The founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy Magazine, who passed away in 2017, is a collector himself: he holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for having the most extensive collection of personal scrapbooks. The guy has been scrapbooking since he was in high school and fastidiously kept mementos of everything that happened in his Playboy Mansion. 

A Keith Haring Chair
Lot 1263. A Keith Haring chair made in France by Villac. 27 1/2” x 19” x 9” (70 cm x 48 cm x 23 cm)
A Keith Haring Chair Made in France by Villac
Lot 1264. A Keith Haring chair made in France by Villac. 27 1/2” x 19” x 9” (70 cm x 48 cm x 23 cm)

New York street artist Keith Haring, another American icon, also appears in the latest Leon online catalogue. Two Keith Haring chairs made of lacquered wood are up for bids with a starting price of P15,000 each. Each would make for a great accent piece in a child’s room or any modern home. The chairs are made in France by a company named Vilac which manufactures quality wooden toys. 

A Custom Made Coca-Cola Loveseat
Lot 1274. A custom-made Coca-Cola loveseat. 37” x 42” x 27” (94 cm x 107 cm x 69 cm)

While we’re in the subject of chairs and American icons, a custom-made Coca-Cola loveseat is one of the more eye-catching objects in the auction’s third day. The piece is a product of the soda company’s venture into making Coca-Cola-related ephemera, a way to communicate the message that the brand is more than just a drink; it’s also, yes, a lifestyle. “This particular piece emphasizes the aesthetic and palette attributed to the brand,” says the catalogue notes, “as well as the pop culture sentiments attributed to the company itself.” In short, it will definitely put a nostalgic spin to anyone’s basement bar or private den. 

To check out the rest of the chairs, chests, rugs and other home stuff up for bids this weekend, check out www.leon-gallery.com. 

[Photos courtesy of Leon Gallery]