MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA 1988-2008 – Lot 17 MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA 1988-2008 Rotary dial telephone painted white, circa 1988 Telephone number written by Martin Margiela in black felt-tip pen Width: 15 cm – 6 in. TELEPHONE 1988 “By the end of the 1980s, it was clear that I couldn’t embrace the ubiquitous concrete gray and black designer furniture. Japanese designers Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto had started it, and everyone had been using it for years. I wanted to stand out by choosing the exact opposite: the color white. Everything had to be whitewashed, from the walls to the floors, including cotton slipcovers for the furniture, the television, and even the telephones. The effect was striking. This one is one of my personal telephones, and since I could never remember my number, I wrote it directly on the handset.” Martin Margiela Provenance: Martin Margiela Personal Archives. A white painted rotary dial telephone, circa 1988 Handwritten phone number to top by Martin Margiela Width: 15cm – 6in. TELEPHONE 1988 “Back in the end 80’s it was obvious that I could not use the widespread concrete gray and black design furniture. The Japanese designers Kawakubo and Yohji launched it and everyone used it for years. I felt that I had to be different by choosing the opposite, the color white. But everything had to be roughly painted white, from walls to floors, to the white cotton covers on the furniture, the TV monitor and even the telephones were painted white. The effect was astonishing. This is one of my private phones and since I never could remember my number, I wrote it directly on the phone.” Martin Margiela Provenance: Martin Margiela’s personal archives.