Famed architect, Frank Gehry (80), the architect of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and other landmark buildings is reported to be sued by California-based communication company Circa Publishing Enterprises over an alleged promise that, according to Circa, was broken by Gehry.
The roots of the story go back to 2004, when, after Gehry showed interest in designing jewelry, his Los Angeles-based company, Gehry Design LLC entered a written agreement with Circa, providing the latter with exclusive rights to produce, distribute and sell jewelery designed by Frank Gehry. Circa Publishing, according to the contract, was entitled half the proceeds of items sold under the deal.
Frank Gehry collection by Tiffany & Co.
Later, the company introduced Gehry to representatives of world-wide jewelry manufacturer Tiffany & Co. representatives, which led to the launch of of Tiffany’s Frank Gehry Collection two years later, in May, 2006. The collection, that was unveiled in Beverly Hills consists of pieces priced between $125 (a silver ring), and $1m (a diamond brooch shaped like the floor plan of the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry’s signature work of art).
The agreement brokered between Gehry and Tiffany & Co., however, unlawfully excluded Circa Publications, the plaintiff claims in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by the communication company.
Frank Gehry and Circa Publications’ owner, Fred Nicholas are reported to have been friends for 40 years before the dispute.
Gehry’s lawyers say that it was Circa, who ended the agreement, before the Tiffany contract was inked. “Circa is not entitled to a penny,” Gehry’s attorney Patricia L. Glaser was quoted as saying. According to Glaser, Circa made clear in a March 2004 e-mail that the contract was being returned to Gehry. As a lawyer, Nicholas knew that such an action meant a deal was over, Glaser said.
Frank Gehry collection by Tiffany & Co.
The dispute broke out in September, 2006 when Circa started to demand its share after the sold items of Tiffany’s Frank Gehry Collection. According to Circa’s lawyer now that the collection has been in the making for three years it made millions of dollars.
“I’m 80 years old, so I have lapses sometimes,” Gehry, as the first witness, told the court, saying that he doesn’t remember much about the negotiations that led to the Tiffany deal. Speaking about the designing process Gehry said designing jewelry was entirely new to him. “What’s fascinating is the craftsmanship in the items that is not available in buildings. I had to re-orient my thinking,” said Gehry.
“I quite enjoyed it,” he added later.
