Freddie Mercury’s vast personal collection is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s from 6 September 2023, with an exhibition of 1,200 lots on show in London until then.
Amongst the eclectic contents of Mercury’s London home, Garden Lodge, is a first look inside his jewellery box.
A flamboyant collection including personal gifts from friends – Elton John among them – joins Victorian and art deco-inspired pieces, some dating from the 1920s. One-off items, such as a bejewelled watch worn on the lapel, join pieces from Cartier and vintage treasures such as a 1915 seed-pearl-and-diamond necklace.
A gold Cartier brooch, engraved with the words ‘Queen Number 1’ and gifted by Queen manager John Reid on the occasion of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ reaching number one, and a diamond feather brooch that made its first appearance at London’s Great Exhibition in 1851 are both highlights.
‘Sometimes I could go to Cartier, the jewellers, and buy up the whole shop... yesterday I went shopping at Cartier in London, but then I realised they were closing at lunchtime. So I rang up to see if they could leave it open for me, and they actually did... I felt like Zsa Zsa Gabor,’ Freddie Mercury once commented.
A menu and table plan autographed by Mercury’s guests
The jewellery joins fashion items, including the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ catsuits, a silk waistcoat painted with Mercury’s cats Delilah, Goliath, Oscar, Lily, Romeo and Miko, and the ballet pumps he loved to wear on stage.
The extensive collection also features lyrics in progress, works of art, sketches, moustache combs, personal polaroids and art nouveau furniture.
‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ exhibition is on view at Sotheby’s London until 5 September 2023. Ahead of the London finale, highlights will be on view in Sotheby's galleries across the globe. The first in a series of live auctions takes place on 6 September
The lots include a host of cat ornaments
-
Tom Brady’s watch collection is for sale at Sotheby’s: here are the highlights‘The GOAT Collection: Watches & Treasures from Tom Brady’ goes on sale at Sotheby’s New York on 10 December
-
Sotheby’s vintage watch sale of 24 spectacular avant-garde designs sells out in one hourPatek Philppe's crazy-paved cuff and Audemars Piguet's emerald car are the star lots, pointing towards a new era of idiosyncratic opulence in watch design
-
Bid for Elton John’s watches as he says ‘Goodbye Peachtree Road’ at Christie’sOur view? Elton John’s watches shimmer with poignancy and taste as the ‘Goodbye Peachtree Road’ auction at Christie’s New York reveals the contents of his Atlanta home
-
Vast Swatch auction includes collaborations with Keith Haring, Philip Glass and Vivienne WestwoodLAMA’s Swatch auction of artist Esther Montagner’s collection sees over 600 pieces go under the hammer
-
Watches, jewellery and art go under the hammer at Phillips AsiaDigital ‘Refresh: Reload’ auction unites disciplines for the first time
-
Chain reaction: sculpture and jewellery interconnect as Ana Khouri’s designs go on show at Phillips, London -
Natural selection: the evolving nature of floral jewel design -
Grima the great: a personal recollection of a 1960s jewellery design visionary
