October 2019 – The first dress to appear at auction by the celebrated Chinese couturier, Guo Pei will be offered at Sotheby’s in its New Bond Street saleroom later this month. Guo Pei, who is among the first generation of trained couturiers in China, shot onto the international stage when musician Rihanna chose to wear one of her designs to the Met Gala in 2015 – a dramatic trailing yellow gown which sparked a global media frenzy. Gold and Yellow have remained a signature design element of Guo Pei’s work, colours which were previously reserved for the emperor during the Qing dynasty.

This exquisite piece of couture design was meticulously crafted over the course of five years, and is hand sewn with gold thread in-laid with the precious metal. Carrying an estimate of £500,000-700,000, the ‘Gold Traditional Bridal Dress’ (黄金嫁衣) comes to auction direct from Guo Pei’s atelier in Beijing, presenting a rare opportunity to acquire a piece from one of the designer’s significant couture collections, normally only available to purchase by commission.

“The partnership with Sotheby’s is very special for me. Sotheby’s is known for its high calibre auctions of quality antiques and masterpieces previously owned or worn by legendary individuals or part of a rare collection.

Our gold traditional bridal piece selected for the auction, however, is a brand new piece of work released for the first time at an auction. It may not be an antique but it is a work of art. Its value lies in the traditional craftsmanship and culture it brings forth. I feel our partnership is an answer to Couture’s future - Couture will be considered an art form in the future and this partnership has paved the way for this possibility.” – Guo Pei