From the manuscript of Bohemian Rhapsody to ashtrays and trinkets through his Japanese collection, the intimacy of Freddie Mercury, singer of Queen, is on public display for a month in London, before the dispersion of these pieces at auction at Sotheby’s. Behind the facade of the auction house, adorned with an imposing mustache for the occasion, has been recreated the universe of the singer, who died in 1991 of AIDS, in his house in Garden Lodge, in Kensington, in the west of the British capital. It is in this house that these goods have been kept for three decades, explains Thursday David Macdonald, the “sole proprietor” sales manager. Strolling through the different rooms allows you to admire emblematic pieces, such as the crown and the cape that the artist wore at the time of God Save The Queen which concluded each concert of Queen’s last tour, The Magic Tour in 1986.
According to Cécile Bernard, Managing Director Europe of Sotheby’s, the extent of Freddy Mercury’s love for Japan is one of the discoveries of the preparation for this sale – the exhibition of which is open until September 5, date of birth of the singer. No less than six days are planned during the month of September to disperse the contents of the house. The kimonos, prints, porcelains, lacquers, which he collected represent “a completely unique set”, she told AFP.
The furniture captures the atmosphere of Garden Lodge. Here a worn kitchen table, there a garden furniture, the visitor can imagine the festive meals and the clink of the fine dishes, the spoon which touches the soup plate decorated with a pheasant. These objects tell of the care and attention to detail that Freddie Mercury gave to his guests when he received. Evidenced by these notes on how the table should be set, the guests placed.
Piece of choice, the beautiful 1941 Wurlitzer jukebox that the singer had bought for the kitchen of his house, loaded with records like Hallelujah I Love Her So by Ray Charles, Rit It Up by Little Richard and Shake, Rattle and Roll by Bill Haley . Of music it is especially question in the drafts of the greatest hits of Queen, in the forefront of which that of Bohemian Rhapsody. Fifteen pages which reveal the different directions envisaged by the artist for this title which was initially to be called Mongolian Rhapsody.
The centerpiece of the sale, which was only unveiled on Thursday, was the Yamaha piano acquired in 1975 on which Freddie Mercury composed almost everything from Bohemian Rhapsody, according to Gabriel Heaton, a specialist in books and manuscripts. Sotheby’s estimates it at between two and three million pounds sterling (from 2.3 to 3.5 million euros). Freddie Mercury’s dressing room is also open: his jackets, shoes, glasses, sequined stage suits with an abysmal neckline, up to the yellow “Champion” tank top he wore at his last concert, August 9, 1986. Other piece, a collection of poetry annotated with comments by the young Farrokh Bulsara, the real name of Freddie Mercury, with a poem of his own composition.
“When we went to Garden Lodge, where he lived, we literally opened suitcases, boxes, found things trying to imagine: OK, where does this fit in the writing process ? This belt, what pants does it go with?, says Cécile Bernard. We kind of played archaeologists doing that, having so much fun!”
In total, around 30,000 to 40,000 objects are put up for sale, Fenella Theis, from the books and manuscripts department, told AFP. “Each piece is so autobiographical” and reflects one of the “very many facets” of the artist’s personality, she believes. The entire collection is offered for sale by Mary Austin, one of the artist’s closest friends, who was also his companion. The profits will be partly donated to foundations involved in the fight against AIDS. “He liked to collect”, “to buy at auction”, argues Cécile Bernard, for whom these sales represent “the best tribute” that could be paid to “Freddie”.