The Kaplický sofa was sold for 396 thousand crowns

Prague - An original sofa designed by architect Jan Kaplický was sold today at auction for 396,000 crowns. Interest in the large bed with cushions in white leather came from only one bidder, who acquired it at the starting price. The sofa was seized by enforcement from a company that planned to build villas in Konopiště based on projects by Czech architects. However, the project remained in the study phase, likely due to the crisis, as the houses were not selling as the investor intended.
     The wife of the deceased architect, Eliška Kaplická, came to watch the auction, waited for the price to be confirmed, and then stated that the work is not an original piece made under a licensing agreement, as she as the copyright owner had withdrawn it. The lawyer for architect Lucie Kavánová, whose costs for the project should be covered by the auction proceeds, countered that the license expired only after the production of the piece being auctioned today, which had been exhibited in the past.
    The bidder, who must pay the sum for the sofa within a week, otherwise a new auction will be arranged, plans to place the couch in private spaces. "I would still like to acquire the lights that belong to the sofa. I might use it in the future for some vernissage, but that will also be rather private," he told ČTK. The sofa has openings for special lights, as well as for a television.
    Years ago, Kaplická agreed with the director of the development company Resort Living, Martina Hollasová, to manufacture and sell the sofa, which was planned for the Konopiště project. The original was designed and made for Kaplický's apartment in London. Based on this license, only one piece of the sofa was made, as Eliška Kaplická terminated the license due to non-fulfillment of financial obligations from the other side.
     The Konopiště Resort project was presented by Resort Living shortly after Kaplický's death in January 2009. The extensive construction was supposed to cover more than 100,000 square meters in an exclusive location near the Konopiště Castle. Two houses with 80 apartments, 15 family homes, and 21 villas were to be built there. The main architect was Markéta Veselá, and others included Svatopluk Sládeček, Ján Stempel, and Zdeněk Fránek, in addition to Kaplický.
     The project was divided into phases, and the architects whose designs were to be constructed in the first phase were paid for their studies, and the project also obtained a building permit according to their plans. However, in the second phase, money was lacking; for example, Kavánová was in a legal dispute with the developer, and the auction of the sofa was arranged precisely to cover the payment of the fee awarded to her by the court.