Wearable Art: The Lynn Pickwell Collection | USA

Date: 19th May, 2026 10:00
Lots: 140
Kerry Taylor Auctions USA
@Mana Contemporary
888 Newark Avenue,
Jersey City, NJ 07306 US
Telephone: +1 (551) 220 6325
 
 
 
Viewing Times
Sunday May 17: 12pm-6pm
Monday May 18: 10am-5pm
 
 
 
Defined not by category but by instinct, the collection of Lynn Pickwell and Bruce Moore stands apart for its remarkable individuality and discerning eye. Her pieces are brave and bold. Assembled over decades, it reflects an uncompromising commitment to visual impact, artisanal craft and innovation. Pickwell describes herself as “a natural-born hunter-gatherer, like a truffle hunter”—a philosophy that has resulted in an eclectic group of exceptional breadth and character.

Spanning the period from 1912 to 2013, the collection offers a dynamic survey of twentieth- and early twenty-first-century fashion, with a broad American/British and Japanese slant. The collection evolved alongside Pickwell’s international career as a costume designer and stylist, with commissions for artists including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Her travels provided access to a global network of sources, from vintage boutiques to private collections, enabling the acquisition of rare and often singular pieces. Her segue into the art world with collector Bruce Moore formed a symbiotic relationship rooted in their passion for how ethnographic design shapes culture.
 
Despite its breadth and significance, the collection remained private and largely unseen until 2019, when Pickwell collaborated with the J.F. Chen Gallery in Los Angeles for the exhibition ‘Collision’. The precedent presentation of fashion alongside important avant-garde furniture and prototype design highlighted its significance as another applied art.

In the absence of future exhibition plans and with the collection held for years in archival storage, the decision was finally taken to sell. The Lynn Pickwell & Bruce Moore Collection presents a rare opportunity to acquire works of outstanding quality and provenance.
View Results
Lot 97 - A rare Marian Clayden tie-dyed silk shirt, circa 1976

Lot 97 - A rare Marian Clayden tie-dyed silk shirt, circa 1976

Unsold

Withdrawn

Lot 99 - A Char silk and leather Wearable Art ensemble, Mexican, late 1960s-early 1970s

Lot 99 - A Char silk and leather Wearable Art ensemble, Mexican, late 1960s-early 1970s

Unsold

Lot 100 - A J Cooper hand-painted suede and leather Adam & Eve ensemble, 1970s

Lot 100 - A J Cooper hand-painted suede and leather Adam & Eve ensemble, 1970s

Sold for £2,860

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 101 - A felt-leaf ensemble 1970s

Lot 101 - A felt-leaf ensemble 1970s

Unsold

Lot 102 - A Nina Vivian Huryn printed magenta satin 'Monkey Cup' dress, 1977

Lot 102 - A Nina Vivian Huryn printed magenta satin 'Monkey Cup' dress, 1977

Unsold

Lot 103 - An Alex and Lee 'Peace and Love' copper, leather and feather necklace, 1970s

Lot 103 - An Alex and Lee 'Peace and Love' copper, leather and feather necklace, 1970s

Sold for £598

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 104 - An oxblood suede dress, 1970s

Lot 104 - An oxblood suede dress, 1970s

Unsold

Lot 105 - A Paul Johnson quartz and macramé bodice, 1975

Lot 105 - A Paul Johnson quartz and macramé bodice, 1975

Unsold

Lot 106 - An interesting group of separates, late 60s-early 70s

Lot 106 - An interesting group of separates, late 60s-early 70s

Sold for £3,900

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 107 - A group of leather accessories, 1960s-70s

Lot 107 - A group of leather accessories, 1960s-70s

Unsold

Lot 108 - An East West Musical Instruments Co. brown leather jacket, 1970s

Lot 108 - An East West Musical Instruments Co. brown leather jacket, 1970s

Unsold

Lot 109 - A rare Marco Correa for Tai wool jersey maxi dress, circa 1970

Lot 109 - A rare Marco Correa for Tai wool jersey maxi dress, circa 1970

Sold for £1,820

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 110 - A rare Yves Saint Laurent crochet hot pants ensemble, 1970s

Lot 110 - A rare Yves Saint Laurent crochet hot pants ensemble, 1970s

Sold for £4,420

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 111 - A pair of Yves Saint Laurent haute couture boots, Autumn-Winter 1970-71

Lot 111 - A pair of Yves Saint Laurent haute couture boots, Autumn-Winter 1970-71

Unsold

Lot 112 - A Gucci enamelled silver link bracelet, 1970s

Lot 112 - A Gucci enamelled silver link bracelet, 1970s

Sold for £2,210

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 113 - A Gucci men's black leather gilet, 1970s

Lot 113 - A Gucci men's black leather gilet, 1970s

Unsold

Lot 114 - A pair of Gucci brown suede boots, 1970s

Lot 114 - A pair of Gucci brown suede boots, 1970s

Unsold

Lot 115 - A Gnyuki Torimaru (Yuki) red Hurel silk jersey halterneck dress, 1990s remake of 1976

Lot 115 - A Gnyuki Torimaru (Yuki) red Hurel silk jersey halterneck dress, 1990s remake of 1976

Unsold

Lot 116 - A Yuki draped white jersey dress, circa 1974

Lot 116 - A Yuki draped white jersey dress, circa 1974

Unsold

Lot 117 - A Lanvin printed cotton evening gown, circa 1970

Lot 117 - A Lanvin printed cotton evening gown, circa 1970

Unsold

Lot 118 - A Madame Grès haute couture aubergine silk jersey ensemble, circa 1973

Lot 118 - A Madame Grès haute couture aubergine silk jersey ensemble, circa 1973

Unsold

Lot 119 - An Emilio Pucci ivory shantung silk dress, 1970s

Lot 119 - An Emilio Pucci ivory shantung silk dress, 1970s

Sold for £390

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 120 - A rare Pierre Bory of Paris vinyl puzzle-piece Mutable 'K' dress, 1970

Lot 120 - A rare Pierre Bory of Paris vinyl puzzle-piece Mutable 'K' dress, 1970

Unsold

Lot 121 - A Paco Rabanne metal chain and button mini dress, 1970s

Lot 121 - A Paco Rabanne metal chain and button mini dress, 1970s

Unsold

Lot 122 - An André Courrèges pale blue piqué maxi skirt, early 1970s

Lot 122 - An André Courrèges pale blue piqué maxi skirt, early 1970s

Unsold

Lot 123 - A burlap sack dress, 1960s

Lot 123 - A burlap sack dress, 1960s

Unsold

Lot 124 - A Rudi Gernreich prototype beige vinyl minidress, circa 1967

Lot 124 - A Rudi Gernreich prototype beige vinyl minidress, circa 1967

Unsold

Lot 125 - A Rudi Gernreich brown and purple mini dress, circa 1967

Lot 125 - A Rudi Gernreich brown and purple mini dress, circa 1967

Unsold

Lot 126 - A Rudi Gernreich prototype purple vinyl tunic circa 1967

Lot 126 - A Rudi Gernreich prototype purple vinyl tunic circa 1967

Unsold

Lot 127 - A Pierre Cardin orange leather gilet and black imitation leather miniskirt, late 1960s

Lot 127 - A Pierre Cardin orange leather gilet and black imitation leather miniskirt, late 1960s

Unsold

Lot 128 - A pair of Pierre Cardin black patent ankle boots, 1960s

Lot 128 - A pair of Pierre Cardin black patent ankle boots, 1960s

Unsold

Lot 129 - A Pierre Cardin black patent leather bag, 1960s

Lot 129 - A Pierre Cardin black patent leather bag, 1960s

Sold for £3,120

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 130 - A Harry Gordon Poster Dress Ltd '```Mystic Eye' paper dress, 1968

Lot 130 - A Harry Gordon Poster Dress Ltd '```Mystic Eye' paper dress, 1968

Unsold

Lot 131 - A Harry Gordon Ltd paper poster dress, 1968

Lot 131 - A Harry Gordon Ltd paper poster dress, 1968

Unsold

Lot 132 - A Brent & Collins for Take 6 men's turqoise damask satin blazer, 1960s

Lot 132 - A Brent & Collins for Take 6 men's turqoise damask satin blazer, 1960s

Sold for £520

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 133 - A Ceil Chapman pale cinnamon silk cocktail dress, 1958-60

Lot 133 - A Ceil Chapman pale cinnamon silk cocktail dress, 1958-60

Sold for £182

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 134 - A Ceil Chapman chequered lamé evening tent coat, late 1950s

Lot 134 - A Ceil Chapman chequered lamé evening tent coat, late 1950s

Sold for £468

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 135 - A rare Bes Ben 'Owl' hat, 1950s

Lot 135 - A rare Bes Ben 'Owl' hat, 1950s

Unsold

Lot 136 - A Matilda Etches red and white rayon dress, 1940s

Lot 136 - A Matilda Etches red and white rayon dress, 1940s

Unsold

Lot 137 - An ombré beaded flapper dress, 1929

Lot 137 - An ombré beaded flapper dress, 1929

Unsold

Lot 138 - A fine opera cape made from 1920s Assuit/Azute stole panels

Lot 138 - A fine opera cape made from 1920s Assuit/Azute stole panels

Sold for £3,380

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 139 - An interesting group of bags, 1890s-1950s

Lot 139 - An interesting group of bags, 1890s-1950s

Unsold

Lot 140 - A beaded tunic, circa 1912, and other items

Lot 140 - A beaded tunic, circa 1912, and other items

Unsold