Chess Set

Designed for Ringo Starr in 1972

Klaus designed this chess set for Ringo Starr, using all different types of hands for the various figures.  There are only five of these original sets in existence.  They were cast in sterling silver with one side gold plated.  Notice the rings on the bishop, king, and queen.

Chess Figures (detail)

Here are close-ups of the pawn, king, knight and bishop. Klaus's original wax figures had even more detail than the final cast pieces. He said that the pawn, in particular, he had made to look like a real workman's hand, with rough skin and broken nails, the flesh of the fingers pushed to one side as it would be just before the finger snaps. Some of this detail was not able to be captured with the casting system used. Klaus said his three favorites are the gauntlet (knight), the king and the bishop.

George's Doorknob (left/right)

Designed for George Harrison's birthday

1972. brass, 3" diameter

George's Doorknob (details)

Designed for George Harrison

1972

Ringo's Doorknob (left/right)

Designed for Ringo Starr

1972, brass, 4"x7"

Klaus made this as a present for Ringo, using Ringo's hand as the model for the doorknob.  Notice the star shaped ring on the forefinger in the photo below left.

Ringo's Doorknob (details)

Designed for Ringo Starr

1972

Mando Diabolo Bass (front)

Designed for Mando Diao

2006

Mando Diabolo Bass (back)

Designed for Mando Diao

2006

Bass Guitar (detail)

2007

Vootar

On this instrument you can play bass and guitar on one neck. Of course that is if you can play the guitar! Four strings bass to a bass-amp and completely separated--four strings guitar to a guitar amplifier. So you can have any effect you desire on the guitar at the same time with no interference--a nice clean bass sound. 

I thought this instrument up in 1965. The first instrument was built by the English firm >Vox<. Today together with Stuart from Cassandra Elk instruments >>Vootar nr 4<< is being developed.

This instrument is particularly useful for when you play in a small band like I did with >>Paddy, Klaus & Gibson<< so you can accompany the guitarist with bass and rhythm guitar whilest the drummer is freaking out.

The picture shows a well known bass player by the name of Reggie Worthy slapping away on my "VOOTAR 4"

K.V.

The Rusha Acoustic Guitar

Named for Klaus's daughter, the 'Rusha' acoustic guitar was designed by Klaus together with Stuart from Cassandra Elk Designs.  The unconventional sound openings depicting a sun and moon, as well as two modified triangular openings and custom-designed bridge, give the Rusha its unique look and sound.  The Rusha guitar has a Rosewood body, solid German Alpine-Spruce top, Rosewood neck, Ebony fret board, Ebony bridge, and Maple laminated headstock with "mirror" Maple binding.  Klaus's signature is embedded in the neck at the 12th fret and seven stars mark the fret board, a perfect complement to the celestial motif.  The beautiful headstock design features 'Rusha' written in Klaus's own script.

The Rusha Acoustic Guitar is a very limited edition, available by special order only.  Please email cassandraelk@hotmail.com for information.

Amulettes for Klaus Voormann Special Edition Acoustic Bass Guitars

Designed for Martin Guitars

Klaus was asked by the German distributor of Martin Guitars, AMI Musical Instruments, if he would be interested in working with them to create a Klaus Voormann Special Edition Martin acoustic bass. So Klaus designed these amulettes for this very limited edition of only 14.  Each bass has a different amulette embedded into the headstock, making each guitar a one-of-a-kind in this already very limited edition. The amulettes measure 20mm in diameter.

Then each guitar has Klaus’s hand signature on a special custom-designed label that is glued to the inside.

Anniversary Exhibition - Homage to Klaus Voormann
Remember Revolver - Selection of Fine Art, October 7-12, 2008

Exhibition photos (c) Guido Rottmann

More than 70 illustrations, oil paintings, etchings, lithographs and several other items were shown at the Automobil Forum Unter den Linden in Berlin. Display categories included Revolver, Hamburg Days, Twiggy for Vogue, Voormann's cover artwork, and more.

The centerpiece of the event was the REVOLVING NEW BEETLE Klaus painted with Revolver-inspired designs. The car artwork was the amazing result of 4 weeks of working day and night and was the main attraction for Berlin's media world.

Klaus donated the car to the Biodiversity Project: Ancient Trees and Endangered Beetles. This project is a collaboration between Christina and Klaus Voormann, Volkswagen AG, State Ministry for Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and Center of Environment/Wiesenfelden Castle. The car will be auctioned or sold to the best offer.

More than 8,000 people visited the 6-day event. Plans are being made to continue this successful exhibition in other countries.

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