IMMORTAL MACHINES
Take a Peek at Kenneth Cobonpue’s Classic Car Collection
Idid not meet Kenneth Cobonpue in his furniture store nor a design show; I met him at the race track. He was part of a group which included well-known car enthusiasts Michael Lhuillier and Jay Aldeguer who flew in from Cebu to take our basic racing class held in the defunct Subic International Raceway. He was soft-spoken, friendly, and very cheerful. He absorbed track lessons well and was very enthusiastic on the wheel.
Later on, I would find out that he was the Filipino industrial designer named by TIME magazine as the “first rattan virtuoso.” Recipient of numerous awards such as the Designer of the Year in Maison et Objet Asia in 2014, five Good Design Awards, the grand prize at Singapore International Design Competition, the American Society of Interior Design Top Pick selection, and the French Coup de Coeur Award.
Through the years, I would learn that his pieces would land in Hollywood movies such as Ocean’s 13, Total Recall, and TV shows such as CSI and Nip/ Tuck. Some decorated the homes of
royalty such as Queen Sophia of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan, and even Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (when they were still living happily together.)
After taking over the family business, Cobonpue’s claim to fame was the integration of natural materials and inventive handmade manufacturing of unique statement pieces. He also was one of the first in his industry to globally distribute his products. We were such fans of his work that my first house’s centerpiece was one of his, a unique light installation that can only be seen in one of the major museums in the world. As the years passed, more of his iconic pieces were added, including the Wave table, the Chiquita stool and our latest acquisition, the Star Wars X Kenneth Cobonpue Imperial TIE Fighter seat, all certified conversation starters.
THE CAR COLLECTOR
One facet of Kenneth’s persona is his love for cars. His collection includes some of the world's most iconic cars ever