Mercury on stage at the 1984 Sanremo Festival, Via Wikipedia.
A diverse range of items, including Japanese art and a luxurious red crown and cape, ignited enthusiastic bidding on New Bond Street.
Undoubtedly, it was a long-anticipated event. After an incredibly hyped buildup, the auction of Freddie Mercury's personal treasures at Sotheby's London last night mostly lived up to the drama and surprise associated with the legendary artist himself. Surpassing its initial estimate of £4.8 million to £7.2 million, the auction brought in a staggering £12.2 million, marking a white-glove success story that underscored both the enduring fascination with the Queen frontman and the significant impact of personal charisma in today's art market.
The 59 exceptional lots featured in the auction represented the absolute finest from Mercury's collection housed at Garden Lodge, his Kensington residence, which he had entrusted to his lifelong friend Mary Austin. In the lead-up to yesterday's auction, these items were showcased in an exhibition at Sotheby's, drawing an astounding 140,000 visitors in just one month. Lines of eager art enthusiasts snaked around the block for a significant portion of that period. The evening sale on Wednesday, part of a series of live and online auctions culminating on September 13, alone attracted 2,000 registered participants, setting a new record for Sotheby's and likely beyond.
Appropriately, the evening commenced with a frenzy just to access the venue, as bidders fiercely competed for 25 minutes to secure the garden door from Mercury's Kensington residence. This cherished object, adorned from top to bottom with fan tributes, ultimately sold to a telephone bidder for an astonishing £350,000 (£412,750 after fees), far surpassing its initial high estimate of £25,000.
Subsequent to these notable outcomes, there were several remarkable results, including a Tiffany "Lily" table lamp, a reflection of Mercury's affection for Art Nouveau, which fetched £48,000 (£60,960 after fees), far surpassing its high estimate of £12,000. Another impressive sale was the Fabergé vesta case, reportedly situated in Mercury's bedroom, which went for an even more astounding £75,000 (£95,250 after fees) to an online bidder.
Interestingly, considering the venue, it was the fine art segment that experienced an early slowdown. Italian artist Eugene von Blaas's portrait of a woman striking a theatrical pose with a rose only achieved £55,000 (£69,850 after fees) against a low estimate of £70,000. Additionally, a tender depiction by James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot of his lover Kathleen Newton—Mercury's final art acquisition—fell short of its £400,000 low estimate, selling to an online bidder for £380,000 (£482,600 after fees).
Auctioneer Oliver Barker maintained a cheerful demeanor throughout the proceedings, injecting humor when a specialist lost connection to their bidder, jokingly suggesting a "Freddie refrain" while waiting. The audience echoed this upbeat atmosphere with hearty reactions when the momentum inevitably picked up. A bidder for Joan Miro's print "Le Matador" (Dupin 510) elicited laughter when she inquired if she could examine it closely from her seat. The room resounded with applause as a collector on the auction floor secured a Showa period screen, one of several items reflecting Mercury's affinity for Japanese culture, for an impressive £150,000 (£190,500), well above its £12,000 high estimate.
Hiroshige, painted by Utagawa Kunisada- Kunisada - This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. See the Open Access Policy for Graphic Resources and Data (in English).
A remarkable woodblock print by the artist Utagawa Hiroshige took the spotlight from an art historical perspective. The piece titled "Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake," dating back to the Edo period in the 19th century, portrays a scene of heavy rain pouring down on pedestrians crossing a bridge. This artwork was highly coveted by collectors, notably including Mercury, and serves as an exceptional representation of Hiroshige's artistic prowess. It later became a source of inspiration for artists such as Vincent van Gogh. To everyone's astonishment, this artwork fetched an astounding £230,000 (£292,100 after accounting for fees), significantly surpassing its initial high estimate of £50,000.
However, it's not surprising that the most intense bidding battles took place over items closely associated with Mercury, objects that he had touched, held, or even performed in. The audience couldn't contain their excitement when Mercury's silver snake bangle, famously worn in the music video for the hit ballad "Bohemian Rhapsody," exceeded all expectations by selling for £550,000 (£698,500 after fees), well above its initial estimate of £9,000. The auctioneer, Barker, displayed remarkable skill once again as a series of outfits worn by Mercury were brought to the stage. He humorously commented, "It's reminiscent of a lively Friday night in Blackpool," as the bidding frenzy ensued for a wrap-around top and satin trousers worn by the iconic frontman during the cover shoot of Queen's second album, "Queen II." This ensemble ultimately sold for £40,000 (£50,800 after fees).
It was indeed an unusually festive atmosphere at Sotheby's, and the most enthusiastic applause of the evening was reserved for the draft lyrics of the iconic song "Bohemian Rhapsody." These lyrics soared beyond the six-figure threshold, selling for an impressive £1.1 million (£1.3 million after accounting for fees), surpassing the high estimate of £1.2 million. Earlier in the auction, a Wurlitzer jukebox that once graced Mercury's kitchen exceeded expectations by more than 20 times, as it was snapped up by a bidder in the room for £320,000 (£406,400 after fees).
Mercury's cherished baby grand Yamaha piano, the very instrument on which he composed timeless classics like "Don't Stop Me Now," "Somebody to Love," and "Rhapsody," proved to be the top performer of the evening. It fetched a commendable £1.4 million (£1.7 million after fees), although it fell short of the £2 million lower estimate. Nevertheless, the pinnacle of the night arrived with the appearance of Mercury's crown and cloak worn during Queen's magical tour in 1986. The audience erupted with excitement as this plush, velvety ensemble, adorned with imitation ermine, gold, and jewels, found a buyer in the room who was willing to part with £500,000 (£635,000 after fees).
As the auction drew to a close, there was still room for a couple of surprise highlights that elevated the overall excitement. A pair of well-worn Adidas trainers, looking like they had seen plenty of miles, made their mark in the online bidding, ultimately fetching an astonishing £100,000 (£127,000 after fees). This impressive result far exceeded the modest initial estimate of £5,000. Additionally, a collection of intimate photographs featuring Mercury achieved a similar substantial sum.
The auction proceedings concluded with a rousing rendition of "We Will Rock You," with specialists energetically banging their hands against their desks in celebration. This marked a triumph for Sotheby's, and undoubtedly brought joy to many of Freddie Mercury's devoted and well-heeled fans. For the rest of us, it served as a powerful reminder of the enduring allure of an icon and prompted contemplation about the future direction of such captivating auction house spectacles.
Selena Mattei