2023-08-04 19:08:01
Freddie Mercury’s grand piano, hand-written song lyrics and extravagant costumes will be on display before being auctioned off next month.
More than 1,400 items that belonged to the Queen singer – who died in 1991 aged 45 – will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s London and fans will be able to admire them in a free exhibition.
Along with a collection of Japanese silk kimonos and other garments, visitors will be able to see Freddie’s detailed seating plans, menus and invitations, his collection of artwork, numerous cat figurines and even an old school book.
Thomas Williams, specialist in furniture and decorative arts at Sotheby’s, said: “Freddie was a collector, he did not throw anything away. His possessions give us an extraordinary 360 degree view of the man he was, from childhood to ‘when he died”.
The exhibition will be organized by theme in the 15 galleries of Sotheby’s and will range from a room of Japanese art and objects to a reconstruction of the dining room of the Garden Lodge.
Thomas Williams added: “Freddie was a great entertainer, not only on stage but also at his fabulous dinner parties and meetings.”
The extensive collection was bequeathed to Mary Austin, a close friend of Freddie’s, and sat untouched in her London home for 30 years, until she decided to sell it. Today, The Black Grand Piano is expected to fetch between £2m and £3m, while the handwritten draft of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is estimated between £800,000 and £1.2m.
1691189249
#Taylor #Swift #actress #confides #secrets
