Auctions Auctions

Touched by greatness When celebrity memorabilia graced by the blood, sweat and tears of superstars goes under the hammer, an auction draws attention like no other with mega fans and private collectors alike bidding for huge settlements

rom the iconic Nike Air was worn by Jackson when he tan Burberry trench coat, black Sara Blakely for $162,000 and Jordan 1s, to Lady Gaga’s famously moonwalked across the Givenchy cocktail dress, and Darth Vader’s helmet worn by F acrylic nail, and everything stage for the first time at the 1983 a working script for My Fair Lady actor David Prowse in Star Wars in between, there is some Motown 25 television special. all also auctioned off at eye- Episode V: The Empire Strikes amazing celebrity memorabilia Film paraphernalia usually watering prices. Olivia Newton- Back sold to an anonymous bidder still treasured out there today, leads the charge on celebrity John’s skin-tight black Grease for $898,420 in September 2019, thanks to Sotheby’s and others memorabilia under the hammer, pants were sold to Spanx founder after the estimated selling price keeping auctioneering alive. with Judy Garland’s ruby red was $400,000. A Worn in a game and signed by slippers from The Wizard of Oz 1969 Charger from The Dukes Micahel Jordan himself in 1985, a listed at $6 million by auction of Hazzard, owned by actor John Lady Gaga’s acrylic nail was The iconic actress’ “La Peregrina” pair of Nike Air Jordan 1s sold for site Moments in Time. Audrey Schneider, sold for a whopping auctioned off for $12,000 after natural pearl, diamond, ruby, $560,000 in a Sotheby’s auction Hepburn’s personal working script $9,900,500 on eBay in 2007. a crew member on The Born and cultured pearl necklace sold in May 2020 to break the record from Breakfast at Tiffany’s sold This Way Ball tour found it for $11.8 million including fees for the most expensive pair of for $811,615 at an auction of her backstage. The auction included which, at the time, made it the sneakers ever sold at auction. personal items in 2018, with her not only the nail, but also a most expensive pearl ever sold at Michael Jackon paraphernalia letter of provenance from the auction. This record was recently still fetches impressive coin, with crewmember, two photographs surpassed with an auction of one Kim Kardashian paying $65,625 of Gaga with and without the nail, of Marie Antoinette’s pearls, which for the velvet jacket he wore to an Aviva Stadium staff handbook, sold for a whopping $36 million. Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday party an event crew wristband, and a A chair that J.K. Rowling sat in 1997, and again at the 50th Lady Gaga The Born This Way Ball in while writing the first two Cannes Film Festival screening of grey crew t-shirt. Harry Potter books fetched his film Ghosts. The jacket, which The dark blue Victor Edelstein $394,000 at an auction in 2016. sold for more than three times off-the-shoulder velvet gown Sold to a private collector, the the expected selling price was for A fully restored version of James not including fees. Having been Princess Diana wore while 1930s-era chair had previously Kardashian’s 6-year-old daughter, Bond’s DB5, which estimated only to fetch a mere dancing with John Travolta at sold for $29,000. ■ North. As another Christmas gift appeared in the film, $5,000, the whip was originally the White House in 1995 sold to for North, Kardashian purchased was sold at an RM Sotheby’s donated by Harrison Ford to The Historical Royal Palaces for Jackson’s Smooth Criminal fedora auction for an impressive $6.4 the Institute of Archaeology in $347,000, while Marilyn Monroe’s hat for $56,250, while she gifted million. It is one of only three London to help build a new Centre Happy Birthday, Mr. President her brother Robert two Elvis “Bond-modified” DB5 vehicles in for Conservation and Museum dress, which was covered in Presley rings. existence. “No other car in history Science at University College, 2,500 rhinestones, sold for In 2009, Michael Jackson’s has played a more important London University. $1,267,500 at a Christie’s famous white glove, covered leading role on film and in pop Scarlett Johansson’s used auction in 1999. in glittering crystals, sold culture than the Aston Martin tissue was reportedly sold on eBay Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry for $350,000 to Hong Kong DB5,” Barney Ruprecht, a car for $2,050 after the star said collection sold for a record- businessman Hoffman Ma. specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said in she’d caught a cold from co-star breaking $116 million in 2011. According to Reuters, the glove a press release ahead of the sale. Samuel L. Jackson. Johansson A Batman Returns costume announced she would sell the Top: Darth Vader’s mask went for Right: Michael Jordan’s Nike worn by Michael Keaton sold for tissue while appearing on The $898,420 Above: ’s Air Jordan 1s, worn and signed $41,250 at auction in 2017 and a Tonight Show With Jay Leno in Aston Martin DB5 sold for $6.4m in 1985 by the Chicago Bulls bullwhip used by Harrison Ford in 2008 and then give the proceeds Right: Lady Gaga’s acrylic nail legend himself Indiana Jones sold for $35,460, to charity. was auctioned off for $12,000

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