Sotheby’s “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own”
From Freddie Mercury’s Wardrobe. Photo: Birgitta Huse
“Mercury himself added the last touches to many costumes by sewing and styling certain parts in the way he had imagined them. Also, he sometimes removed parts from one costume and used them on another one.”
“The Chinoiserie piece of furniture filled with fabric samples, a needle cushion, yarns, and other sewing utensils are a proof of Mercury’s practical textile and sewing knowledge.”
“Handwritten invitations and the Garden Lodge dining book are a testament to Mercury’s “fondness for both simple home cooking and lavish hospitality.””
Sotheby’s “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own”
Lovingly cherished and cared for…
★★★★★
WRITTEN BY DR BIRGITTA HUSE, 03.08.2023
The German saying “Mit der Tür ins Haus fallen,” literally translated “to fall into the house together with the door,” means that something overwhelming makes its way directly to the addressee: In this vein, my main interest in the Sotheby’s exhibition “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own” are more vast amounts of items of clothing and stage costumes as well as Kimonos and shoes which will be on offer during Sotheby’s auctions in August and September 2023. Visiting the show is a once in a lifetime chance to get close to the entire content of a world-renowned rock superstar’s wardrobe. Mercury’s wardrobe is a true treasure trove.
Kimonos. Photo: Birgitta Huse
Sneakers. Photo: Birgitta Huse
Sneakers. Photo: Birgitta Huse
Mercury had multifaceted interests and talents which surpass the creation and performance of music. He himself added the last touches to many costumes by sewing and styling certain parts in the way he had imagined them. Also, he sometimes removed parts from one costume and used them on another one. The Chinoiserie piece of furniture filled with fabric samples, a needle cushion, yarns, and other sewing utensils are a proof of Mercury’s practical textile and sewing knowledge. Not only stage costumes were important to him. The range of shoes to be seen at Sotheby’s is impressive. His Adidas High top sneakers, size 8.5, stage worn and with traces of their usage are estimated to sell at £ 3 000 – 5 000 each pair. “Mercury loved the freedom of movement and comfort these boots brought him during performances” say Sotheby’s. Mercury owned an entire collection of elegant Kimonos and Japanese fabric samples. It was especially during his last journey to Japan when he acquired a big part of his Japanese collection which includes “… [w]oodblock prints by the great masters, gem-like lacquer, fluid silk and fine porcelain [which] all show Freddie’s adoration of Japan, as well as his academic expertise in the history of its culture and craft through the ages” according to Sotheby’s.
Fabric samples and sewing equipment. Photo: Birgitta Huse
The “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own” exhibition opens to the public on 4th of August 2023. Sotheby’s says: “[…] the contents of Freddie Mercury’s London home, Garden Lodge, all lovingly cherished and cared for over the last three decades, will be revealed to the public for the first time in a dedicated month-long exhibition at Sotheby’s in London, which will see every inch of the company’s 16 000 square foot gallery space dedicated to celebrating Mercury’s rich and multi-faceted life and passion […].” Six auctions will take place each one of which will cover a certain aspect of Freddie Mercury’s life: “The Evening Auction” with 59 lots, “On Stage” with 200 lots, “At Home” with 263 lots, all three of these auctions live, and “In Love with Japan,” “Crazy Little Things” Part One and “Crazy Little Things” Part Two as online auctions. A portion of the proceeds of the sale will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and to the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Dining table. Photo: Birgitta Huse
The auction house invites “you to step into Freddie’s Mercury’s personal world in an extended takeover at Sotheby’s London.” A central piece whilst entering this world is the green front door of Garden Lodge, Freddie Mercury’s London home. The door is adorned with the graffiti of his fans after his death in 1991. It will be one of the first things offered during “The Evening Auction […] a representative cross-section of the most significant items in the collection” – equally as Mercury’s autograph manuscript working lyrics for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' estimated £ 800 000 – 1 200 000 and Freddie Mercury’s coiled silver snake chain bangle estimated £ 7 000 – 9 000 which he wore on many occasions in the mid-1970s, most notably in the music video for Bohemian Rhapsody, 1975. Furthermore, his signature crown and cloak ensemble, his white silk evening scarf with his golden initials and Queen crest are on offer.
Documents. Photo: Birgitta Huse
The jacket which Freddie Mercury wore at his birthday party on 5th of September 1985 in Munich, Germany, in the exhibition gallery with his stage costumes and kimonos is a prelude to the documents on show in yet another exhibition room at Sotheby’s. The bill from Club Discotheque New York, Müllerstr.1 in Munich, amounts to 82 500 German Mark for drinks only. Handwritten invitations and the Garden Lodge dining book are a testament to Mercury’s “fondness for both simple home cooking and lavish hospitality.” The dark blue dining book by Asprey of London with golden letters spelling “Garden Lodge” and the initials F.M. on its front cover definitely makes for a curious study by a Social Anthropologist or a food historian: it lists the kind of meal, luncheon or dinner, as well as location, date, menu, wines, flowers, notes and – naturally – the guests. On 22 November 1987 for example, the menu was roast lamb, pork and potatoes, chipolata, Brussel sprouts, greens, carrots and peas, butternut squash, turnip, leaks and finally trifle. Lilies were the chosen flowers. The signatures around the table plan do not only function as proofs for attendance but also as a “who met whom” at Freddie Mercury’s Garden Lodge. Comments near each guest name give some idea about the atmosphere on that specific day. The comment on the table says it all: “It was just like Christmas!” Last but not least, fashion aficionados can learn about gowns and jewels worn on the occasion. This aspect of the events, however, seems to not have been taken too seriously in every case. On 22nd November 1987 “gowns and jewels” were “tres casuelle.” On another occasion they were “costume stuff from Ful’s dustbin.” Notable is the 29th of March 1987. On this day Montserrat Caballé and her niece had dinner with Freddie Mercury. “Tuxedos & fab frocks” it says in the Dining book for “The Super Diva + the Diva of RocknRoll” meeting. Needless to say that one is left with curiosity and hunger to take a look at the other pages of Mercury’s Garden Lodge Dining Book. Naturally, the new owner who will win the book at Sotheby’s auction will be able to study it thoroughly.
Entering Freddie Mercury’s world that is presented at Sotheby’s in London in August and September is like leaving everything else outside to get fully immersed and inspired by the collection which the “deeply educated collector” Freddie Mercury has created over decades. I agree with what the auction house itself states: “Sotheby’s reflects Freddie Mercury’s kaleidoscopic world of style and quality, spanning art, fashion, musical instruments, personal papers, possessions and photographs, furniture, and jewels, accrued over the course of fifty years.”
London Exhibition 4th August – 5th September 2023
Exhibition free & open to the public, no booking required.
Live auctions on 6th, 7th and 8th September 2023
Sotheby’s London, 34-35 New Bond St, London W1S 2RP