BOWIE AT BONHAMS
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page’s Martin ‘Birthday Special 2007’ acoustic guitar was the highlight of the Entertainment Memorabilia sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge today, which exceeded its estimates, selling to a round of applause for £26,250 to a bidder in the saleroom.
In laid with Led Zeppelin Zodiac symbols and Jimmy’s name and famously played by Page while performing at Roy Harper’s 70th Birthday celebration at the Royal Festival Hall, the custom guitar was donated by Page to the charity Action for Brazil’s Children Trust, for which he is a patron. Bonhams is delighted to have sold this item on the charity’s behalf.
A set of David Bowie's handwritten lyrics to his track, The Jean Genie gained international interest and were secured by a bidder in the saleroom for £18,750. The lyrics, signed and dated 1972 by Bowie on lined notepaper, were given to the founder of Bowie’s New York fan club. The Jean Genieappeared on the 1973 album Aladdin Sane, Bowie’s first number one album.
Another highlight was David Bowie’s cardinal red Vox twelve-string electric guitar which made£13,750 and was used by Bowie during the promotion of his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.
Stephanie Connell, Director of Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia commented on the sale, “We are delighted to have sold these iconic pieces of memorabilia and are thrilled that a number of them were on behalf of good causes”.
A lock of Mick Jagger’s hair sold to a bidder on the internet for £4,000. Mick Jagger’s hair was cut by his then girlfriend, Chrissy Shrimpton at her family home and, unbeknown to Chrissy, collected by her grandmother. The lock of hair is being sold to benefit the charity Changing Faces.
Additionally, Bonhams helped to raise money for The Trade Justice Movement by offering a large canvas painting by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and artist/collaborator Stanley Donwood, who has designed all of Radiohead’s album artwork and poster campaigns since their seminal album The Bends. The impressive artwork was created in the lead up to ‘Make Poverty History’ in 2005 and was sold for £5,000. A Yamaha piano used for Radiohead albums 'Kid A' and 'Amnesiac' and for corresponding tours along with a microphone used and signed during by Radiohead on their ‘Limbs’ tour along with signed microphone realised £3,750
The sale also included a range of photography, signatures and ephemera relating to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and the Punk movement and also encompassed collectable movie posters, costume and props from classic film and television including an array of James Bond vintage film posters from 1962 to 2006.
Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com. Prior to sale there are several days of viewing which collectors and the general public are welcome to attend.
