Middle-aged enthusiasts of pop music and film are driving a resurgence in pop memorabilia auctions, experts say.
Sotheby’s is set to auction off coveted items such as one of Prince’s guitars and a piano from Abbey Road Studios that was used by Sir Paul McCartney and Amy Winehouse, among other stars.
The auction house is increasingly focusing on pop culture items, moving away from traditional fine art and historic artifacts. This shift reflects the growing interest among those who grew up with rock ‘n’ roll in acquiring mementos from their favorite artists.
Sotheby’s London will showcase and auction a new ‘Pop Culture’ collection, coinciding with a trend where vintage collectors use platforms like TikTok to display items like Marilyn Monroe’s lipstick and Pink Floyd-signed guitars.
Among the highlights is a Steinway grand piano that resided at London’s famed Abbey Road Studios in Studio 3 from 1973 to 2016. Valued between £150,000 and £200,000, the piano is described as being in ‘good condition’ but bearing ‘character’ from wear and tear, including cigarette burns. Besides McCartney and Winehouse, the piano has been played by Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Radiohead, Adele, Katherine Jenkins, Paul Weller, Lady Gaga, and the Foo Fighters.
Another notable item is a Vox HDC-77 electric guitar used by US rock legend Prince on stage between 2013 and 2015. Additionally, three guitars previously owned by Noel Gallagher are up for auction, including an Epiphone Les Paul Standard used during the recording of Oasis’s 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe. This guitar is priced between £60,000 and £80,000. Also available is a 1980 Gibson Flying V guitar gifted to Gallagher by Johnny Marr of the Smiths.
The auction isn’t limited to music memorabilia; it also features film-related items. An original pair of ballet slippers from the 1948 film The Red Shoes, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, is estimated to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000. A costume worn by Paul Mescal’s character in Sir Ridley Scott’s upcoming film Gladiator 2 also features in the sale.
Katherine Schofield, head of popular culture at Sotheby’s, noted the rarity of having a costume auctioned before the film’s release. She explained that the striking imagery from the film’s trailer has captured public imagination. Schofield further elaborated on Sotheby’s increased focus on pop culture items, explaining that the market has evolved significantly over the past decade. She observed that since the pandemic, collectors are drawn to items that evoke nostalgia for their youth and resonate with their personal experiences.
Collectors are actively trading and showcasing their finds online through platforms like TikTok and eBay. Notable accounts include DaveBuysAndSellsRecords, which features signed Pink Floyd guitars and Kiss’s last guitars, and Gino Gargiulo, who offers ballet pumps worn by Amy Winehouse. Vintage collector Erin Parsons has also shared her successful auction bid for Marilyn Monroe’s lipstick.
Additional lots in the Sotheby’s auction include a limited-edition box set of two Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watches, valued between £40,000 and £60,000. Released in 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, these watches commemorate George Lazenby’s portrayal of 007.
Also available are items connected to Sir Paul’s Beatles bandmate John Lennon, including a handwritten letter from the 1969 ‘Bed-In’ peace protest by Lennon and Yoko Ono. This letter was obtained by 16-year-old Dutch fan Constance Vrijdaghs during an interview with the couple. Bidders can also compete for a multicolored felt pen drawing by Lennon, dated 1967, with an estimated value between £15,000 and £20,000.
