A rare opportunity to own memorabilia linked to one of the first films has cropped up thanks to an A-list Hollywood auction.
Film fanatics, with stretchy purse strings, will be able to snap up iconic items from the golden era of Hollywood and legendary music moments over the years thanks to an upcoming auction at Sotheby’s in .
Following the success of the : A World of his Own auction series last year, the gallery is launching its inaugural Popular Culture auction featuring curated items from the worlds of music and film.
They will go under the hammer in a dedicated online sale taking place over two weeks until September 12 and, based on the items, it’s sure to be a popular event.
One of the more expensive items up for offer is a Steinway grand piano, bought by the famous Abbey Road Studios in 1973. It has produced songs for the likes of , and up until 2016 when a newer model replaced it.
Highlighting the history of the grand piano, Katherine Schofield, Head of Popular Culture, EMEA, Sotheby’s, said: ‘Following the sale of the famous Abbey Road Mk IV recording console in 2017, a contemporary of this grand piano from Abbey Road, we have seen huge appetite for equipment from these famed studios.
‘It’s fascinating to see how long this Steinway was used in Studio 3 and featured on recordings by a wide range of artists, such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Paul Weller and Amy Winehouse on some of their seminal albums.’
Its estimated worth is between £150,000-£200,000.
The Beatles-theme is strong with this exhibition as, aside from the Abbey Roads piano, an important item from John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-in For Peace protest in Amsterdam from March 1969 is also up for grabs.
Estimated between £70,000 and £90,000, the collection includes a handwritten letter from late musician Lennon, detailed handwritten questionnaire, and signed material from the Amsterdam protest. Offering a fascinating insight into the legendary Beatle at a key moment in his solo career, personal life and political mission, the items were obtained by 16-year-old Dutch Beatles fan Constance Vrijdaghs, who interviewed Lennon and Ono at the Amsterdam Hilton hotel on March 26, 1969.
Also part of the sale is a multi-coloured felt pen drawing by Lennon on Hotel Continental…Paris headed stationery, circa 1967, which is believed to have been created while he was under the influence of L.S.D. The lucky owner will have to shell out between £15k-£20k to own this masterpiece.
Other items include Prince’s electric guitar, estimated between £200k-£300k, two guitars owned by Noel Gallagher from the recording Oasis’ debut album Definitely, Maybe, which are expected to fetch between £60l-£80k.
Those with a love of the Golden Age of Hollywood are also in for a treat, as the auction will feature an original pair of ballet slippers from the 1948 film, The Red Shoes, as well as a much newer item from the upcoming Gladiator 2: the rhino-riding gladiator costume seen in the recently-released trailer for Sir Ridley Scott’s sequel starring Paul Mescal.
For James Bond fans, they can snap up a limited-edition box set of two Omega Seamaster Diver 300M model watches, estimated at between £40k-£60k, that were released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 50th anniversary.
The sixth 007 film was released in 1969 and starred George Lazenby in the role of Bond alongside Diana Rigg and Joanna Lumley.
Memorabilia from the ; in 2023, a single hoard of various items in celebration of a special 70th anniversary sold for over £732k.
Bidding opens at at 2pm BST on August 29, 2024 and closes on Friday September 12 at 2pm BST.
