Freddie Mercury – A World of His Own
In September 2023, Sotheby’s London will offer – what might become – one of the most extraordinary celebrity sales to ever come up on the auction market. Freddie Mercury, who passed away in 1991 at the age of 45, left behind an incredible musical legacy that has only grown each year. He also left his Garden Lodge home in London, which has remained untouched – until now. Garden Lodge was left by Mercury to Mary Austin, who was one of his closest friends. After more than 30 years, Austin has decided to sell the impressive Freddie Mercury collection – a mission that every auction house in the world would do everything to take on. The honor was given to Sotheby’s, who has divided the sale into six parts: The Evening Sale, On Stage, At Home, In Love with Japan, and Crazy Little Things part 1 and 2. In total, the sale includes more than 1,500 lots.
Celebrity Estate Auctions
Once in a while, auction houses proudly present celebrity estate auctions. Sotheby’s sold the John Lennon collection in 1984, the Andy Warhol collection in 1988, and the Frank Sinatra collection in 2018, to mention a few. Christie’s, on the other hand, held the impressive Marilyn Monroe estate auction in 1999 and the Ronald Reagan estate auction in 2016. Another notable auction house with many celebrity estate auctions is Julien’s Auctions, with names such as Greta Garbo, Ringo Starr, and football icon Pelé. Lastly, Heritage Auction has offered estate auctions of Hollywood legends John Wayne and Gregory Peck.
Related: Worth Millions: Behind the Appeal of Celebrity Memorabilia
Handwritten Lyrics
For many years, the demand for handwritten lyrics by some of the world’s finest singer-songwriters has been enormous. Original lyrics to Dylan’s 1965 classic Like a Rolling Stone sold for $2 million in 2014. Two other seven-figure sales are The Beatles’ songs A Day in the Life and All You Need is Love, both of which were handwritten by John Lennon. One of the most anticipated items in the 6-part Freddie Mercury auction is the handwritten lyrics to We Are the Champions. The song, written by Mercury, was released in 1977 and immediately became a fan favorite. Today, it is undoubtedly one of pop culture's most iconic and recognizable anthems.
Related: From Haydn to Hip-Hop: Music for Collectors
Stage-used items
Freddie Mercury often wore startling outfits on stage. One of his most famed costumes was worn in 1986 during Queen’s last live performance at Knebworth. It was an impressive crown inspired by St. Edward’s crown and a cloak of red velvet with fur and rhinestones. This iconic costume is one of the most exciting lots of the entire sale and is expected to sell in the six-figure range. The auction also includes other stage-used items, such as guitars and microphones.
Art and Decorative Items
The auction does not solely feature Queen and Freddie Mercury memorabilia. The frontman was also an avid collector of art and other beautiful things. David MacDonald at Sotheby’s, who has worked with preparing this auction, says: “Freddie Mercury’s collection is a manifestation of one extraordinary man’s creativity, taste and unerring eye for beauty, presenting so much more than just an exquisite selection of the very best examples by artists across centuries and countries.” Mercury's taste for beauty becomes clear with the artworks featured in the sale. The catalog features artworks by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, an original 1880 painting by James Jacques Tissot, and 11 watercolors by Art Deco artist Erté. A beautiful Fabergé gem set, nephrite, and enamel desk clock from Mercury’s bedside will also be offered.
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The Moustache Comb
The one thing one needs to imitate Freddie Mercury – besides a good singing voice, of course – is a fake moustache. Many historical figures have a significant item or feature in their appearance that is associated with them. Abraham Lincoln had the top hat; Albert Einstein had the hair; John Lennon had the eyeglasses. Freddie Mercury had the moustache. It is remarkable, to say the least, that Sotheby’s is offering a moustache comb that has been personally owned and used by Mercury, which is guaranteed to be one of the top lots of the entire sale. Notably, the comb is also somewhat precious as it is in silver and made by Tiffany & Co.
Related: The Iconic Shades of Elvis
Sotheby’s Largest Exhibition
The sale of the monumental Freddie Mercury collection will include showings in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and London. It is the largest-ever exhibition that Sotheby's has created, and the sale will be closely followed by collectors all over the world. This auction will probably go down as the greatest single-celebrity sale ever to have been offered to the public, and many auction records are expected to be broken.