Julien’s and Sotheby’s will auction a number of high-value pop culture memorabilia and artworks this month, including items from the Beatles and U.S. election-themed paintings.
Julien’s will auction George Harrison’s guitar, Elvis Presley’s microphone, and Elton John’s piano from his Las Vegas residency.
Harrison’s guitar is valued the highest, at around US$600,000-$800,000. Harrison played the Resonet Futurama electric guitar at more than 324 Beatles performances, mostly between 1959 and 1961.
“Harrison’s purchase of this legendary axe would become a pivotal moment that would shape his early musical development and The Beatles' nascent sound,” according to Julien’s.
Bidding has begun on all three items, ahead of a November 20-21 auction.
Julien’s also sold a number of Banksy’s early works at auction last week, with the original print of Girl with Balloon selling for over UK£80,000.
Sotheby’s, meanwhile, will sell American-themed contemporary artworks at auction on November 20, following the U.S. presidential election. This will include Ed Ruscha’s painting Georges’ Flag, which is valued at US$8-12 million.
Sotheby’s has described Georges’ Flag as “a vast and epic painting of histrionic significance”.
Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian, a banana taped to a wall, will also be sold at that auction for an estimated US$1-1.5 million. The artwork was exhibited in Australia earlier this year.
Sotheby’s sold a set of Michael Jordan jerseys and collectibles for US$8.5 million in total on Monday.
An auction by Sotheby’s Hong Kong will begin today, featuring paintings by Mark Rothko and Yayoi Kusama.