David Kings’(Denzel Washington) living room in Highest 2 Lowest, featuring a Moleca Armchair(Lot 346A) and Rosewood Credenza(Lot 121) beneath Kehinde Wiley’s Investiture of Bishop Harold as the Duke of Franconia No. 1.
Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest isn’t just a stylish reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller High and Low, it’s a layered exploration of identity, power, and legacy, brought to life.
Set in contemporary New York City, the film follows David King, a legendary music mogul played by Denzel Washington. King is introduced as the man with the “best ears in the business,” founder of Stackin’ Hits Records, and a larger-than-life figure in the world of hip-hop. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that King’s mastery goes far beyond music. He is a man of deep cultural knowledge; a collector, curator, and connoisseur of beauty across disciplines.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horn Players, 1983, acrylic and oil stick on three canvas panels mounted on wood supports, 243.8 x 190.5 cm
Kehinde Wiley, i nvestiture of Bishop Harold as the Duke of Franconia, 2005. Collection of Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.
King’s world is meticulously crafted, and what makes it feel especially authentic is that much of the art seen on screen comes from Spike Lee’s personal collection. From the very first scenes, the film blurs the lines between director and character. King’s penthouse, lined with pieces by Kehinde Wiley, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, feels as much like a reflection of Spike Lee’s real-life as it does David King’s. This is more than production design, it’s Spike's personal history woven into fiction.
But where the art might initially steal the show, the true foundation of King’s world is found in what supports it, literally. Throughout the film, his spaces are anchored by an exceptional collection of Mid-Century Brazilian furniture, provided by Found Collectibles. These pieces don’t shout for attention, but they speak volumes about King’s worldview. In his penthouse living room, Sergio Rodrigues’ iconic “Moleca” armchair made in rosewood in bold orange fabric holds its own beneath Wiley’s towering Investiture of Bishop Harold as the Duke of Franconia No. 1. A 1960s rosewood credenza sits directly underneath, its Rosewood Root grain and form offering a dark elegance that balances the room’s bright colors.
King Family in living room with Orange Moleca Armchair(Lot 346A) and Rosewood and Marble Credenza(Lot 121) in background to the right side.
Left to right: Rosewood Credenza(Lot 121), Giuseppe Scapinelli Side table(Lot 768A), Moleca Armchair(Lot 346A)
In the dining area, the sense of curation continues. A 70-year-old foldable bar cart by Ming Móveis adds vintage flair, while two art deco rosewood torchères give the space a subtle architectural rhythm. These are not the typical props of cinematic wealth: they are artifacts of history, chosen with intention, grounding King in a lineage of global design and cultural knowledge.
David and Pam King in conversation in the dining room area, with a Ming Moveis bar cart(Lot 538) visible in the background.
Police Detective standing in dining room with “Torchierre” Floor Lamps in Rosewood, Crystal & Metal(Lot 474) positioned behind her.
Left to right: Ming Moveis bar cart(Lot 538), Pair of “Torchierre” Floor Lamps in Rosewood, Crystal & Metal, By Unknown Designer(Lot 474)
The private library may be the most intimate of King’s interiors. Paneled in dark wood, the space channels the quiet gravitas of institutions like the Morgan Library or Harvard’s Widener Library. But King’s version is grounded in Black American history and cultural memory. A large yellow Celina sofa made in the 1960s provides a bright centerpiece, while a pair of Black Bertomeu armchairs and a Rosewood credenza by Sergio Rodrigues face it creating a space for contemplation. The walls, lined with books and flanked by portraits of musical legends like Jimi Hendrix, make it clear: this is a space built for reflection, study, and meditation.
David King seated on a yellow Celina Sofa (Lot 124) in his home library, flanked by a pair of rosewood and black leather armchairs by Bertomeu (Lot 684A). Across from him is the “Adolpho” rosewood credenza by Sergio Rodrigues (Lot 391) and a hardwood and glass side table by Giuseppe Scapinelli (Lot 385).
Left to Right: yellow Celina Sofa (Lot 124), a pair of rosewood and black leather armchairs by Bertomeu (Lot 684A), “Adolpho” rosewood credenza by Sergio Rodrigues (Lot 391), hardwood and glass side table by Giuseppe Scapinelli (Lot 385).
David King Seated on yellow Celina Sofa(Lot 124) in his home library.
While King’s home reads like a living gallery, his office reveals another side of his legacy: one built through decades of musical influence. The walls are packed with memorabilia, records, press clippings, historic photos — but the furniture here also tells a story. At the center sits a commanding “Diplomata” desk by Jorge Zalszupin, originally designed for diplomats and executives in Brasília. Behind it, a rosewood patchwork credenza also by Zalszupin and Canoa armchairs by Liceu de Artes e Ofícios subtly reinforce King’s stature. This is not just an office. It's a monument to the work of the man who shaped the sound and of a generation.
David King entering his NYC office, where the elegant Canoa Chair is prominently positioned in the bottom left corner, adding a touch of refined Brazilian craftsmanship to the space.
David King photographed at his iconic Zalszupin "Diplomata" desk in his NYC office, with a pair of elegant Braszenski chairs positioned across from him, showcasing a harmonious blend of classic Brazilian design and modern workspace sophistication.
Left to Right: “Diplomata” Desk in Rosewood by Jorge Zalszupin(Lot 554), Pair of “Canoa” Armchairs in Rosewood & Leather by Liceu de Artes e Oficios (Lot 208), Credenza "Modular" in Rosewood by Jorge Zalszupin(Lot 480).
What’s most striking about Highest 2 Lowest is how naturally Spike Lee’s own legacy flows into David King’s fictional one. Both men are curators — not just of taste, but of time, memory, and meaning. They don’t collect things for show. They collect to preserve, to honor, and to build something lasting. Whether it’s a Kehinde Wiley painting, a Zalszupin desk, or The Moleca, every item in King’s world is there to serve a purpose — to tell the story of a man who understands that legacy is something you build, one piece at a time.
David King(Denzel Washington) captured walking out of a meeting with a rising music star portrayed by New York rapper Ice Spice.
Left to Right: Dining Table in Chrome & Wood, Geraldo de Barros(Lot 7), Pair of Cabinets, Geraldo de Barros(Lot 6), Set of 6 Chairs in Leather, Metal & Wood, Braszenski(Lot 156)
