A wonderful collection of artefacts by the renowned and inspiring designer, Tom Karen (1926-2022), will be sold at Cheffins’ Art and Design sale on 22nd February.
Born in Vienna, Tom Karen and his family arrived in England during the Second World War, having been forced to flee Czechoslovakia. He studied aeronautical engineering at Loughborough College, then worked in the aircraft industry for 10 years. A period of illness prompted him to shift gears and he enrolled at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, dedicating his time to creating aviation-themed designs and cartoons. He went on to work for Ford, Hotpoint and Philips, following which he became MD and chief designer at Ogle, the product and transport design organisation.
An automobile rendering by Tom Karen
Under Karen’s leadership, Ogle produced a wealth of era-defining designs including the Reliant Robin, Reliant Kitten and the bright orange Bond Bug. Whilst at Ogle, Karen also designed Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder for the Star Wars franchise. Beyond Ogle, he is renowned for designing the beloved children’s game, Marble Run and of course, the iconic Raleigh Chopper bicycle which revolutionised bicycle design.
Latterly a Cambridge resident, Tom Karen’s passing in December 2022 marked the loss of a pioneering designer, considered a giant in his industry.
Card built models by Tom Karen
The collection of lots for sale (Lots 93-111) consist of a wonderful array of designs which capture his fun spirit. These include a large plaster model of a bird decorated with flowers and vibrant colours, a collection of card-built robot, animal and transport models, terracotta models, driftwood sculptures and automobile renderings. Individual lot guide prices range from £50.00-£250.00
Plaster model of a bird by Tom Karen
Gabrielle Downie, Associate at Cheffins, comments: “This is a special collection from an inspiring designer. His papier-mache and plaster birds (Lot 107) is one of my favourite lots of the upcoming sale because of their sheer joyfulness. Like so many of the Tom Karen lots included in the sale, these birds reflect the playfulness of their maker, who spread so much happiness throughout his lifetime.”