pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 1, 2023 12:17:46 GMT
Looking at the current bids, there are still some tempters... If you're willing to "settle" for in-house sales awards, there are some bundled into single lots. T shirts nobody ever saw him wear Some kimonos and Japanese art still without bids and some oddities... wristbands still in the packet the Play The Game guitar (why did he take that home?  ) and there's obviously something going on with the Lalique fish that I don't know about The desk seal has been withdrawn (was lot 2001) It's also noticeable that a handful of lots have now been marked as "premium lots", I presume because the bidding has gone wild - these were the last bids I saw: 104 - 85k 136 - 28k 524 - 28k 582 - 35k 598 - 22k In theory, the whole auction is smashing the estimates, but with two lots being a third to a quarter of that estimate, the actual outcome is heavily dependent on their being at least two multi millionaires who want Freddie's piano and the original Bo Rhap lyrics.... |
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Sept 1, 2023 12:32:49 GMT
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the piano ended up in one of Brian's new homes.
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Post by akirafish on Sept 1, 2023 14:31:38 GMT
Here's some photos inside Garden Lodge in HD, including his tapes.
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JackG
Ostler
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Post by JackG on Sept 1, 2023 16:35:42 GMT
Here's some photos inside Garden Lodge in HD, including his tapes. Interesting Items:
VCR Tapes: (VHS wasn't released to the public until early '77)
- "Queen Sweet Lady" (Hyde Park 1976?) - "------- Lover Boy" (Top Of The Pops 77?)
Cassette Tapes:
- 3x "Townhouse Studios: Freddie Mercury" (I Guess these contain Yellow Breezes/Have A Nice Day/Keep Smilin') - 1x German Cassette Tape (It's lowres) - 2x "Freddie Mercury XX XX.XX.87?" (Home Demos?)
- 1x "Queen Live At Wembley '86" (Pre-release?) - 1x "Freddie Mercury - Made In Heaven XX.09.1985" (Pre-release?)
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 1, 2023 17:32:01 GMT
Here's some photos inside Garden Lodge in HD, including his tapes. Interesting Items: VCR Tapes: (VHS wasn't released to the public until early '77)
- "Queen Sweet Lady" (Hyde Park 1976?) - "------- Lover Boy" (Top Of The Pops 77?) Cassette Tapes: - 3x "Townhouse Studios: Freddie Mercury" (I Guess these contain Yellow Breezes/Have A Nice Day/Keep Smilin') - 1x German Cassette Tape (It's lowres) - 2x "Freddie Mercury XX XX.XX.87?" (Home Demos?)
- 1x "Queen Live At Wembley '86" (Pre-release?) - 1x "Freddie Mercury - Made In Heaven XX.09.1985" (Pre-release?)
I'm such a fan of your random speculation.... Townhouse could just as easily be AKOM The 87 tape could be The Great Pretender Made In Heaven was out a lot earlier than September.... |
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lumi
Dragonfly Trumpeter
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Post by lumi on Sept 1, 2023 18:28:58 GMT
The desk seal has been withdrawn (was lot 2001) What could be the reason for a withdrawal? |
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Post by saintjiub on Sept 1, 2023 18:42:33 GMT
Interesting Items: VCR Tapes: (VHS wasn't released to the public until early '77)
- "Queen Sweet Lady" (Hyde Park 1976?) - "------- Lover Boy" (Top Of The Pops 77?) Cassette Tapes: - 3x "Townhouse Studios: Freddie Mercury" (I Guess these contain Yellow Breezes/Have A Nice Day/Keep Smilin') - 1x German Cassette Tape (It's lowres) - 2x "Freddie Mercury XX XX.XX.87?" (Home Demos?)
- 1x "Queen Live At Wembley '86" (Pre-release?) - 1x "Freddie Mercury - Made In Heaven XX.09.1985" (Pre-release?)
I'm such a fan of your random speculation.... Townhouse could just as easily be AKOM The 87 tape could be The Great Pretender Made In Heaven was out a lot earlier than September.... Without his speculation, we would not have received your speculation ... perhaps we shall see what these items actually are ... soonish
It is fun to speculate ... Is it not?
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 2, 2023 7:10:41 GMT
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the piano ended up in one of Brian's new homes. I would. I'd have thought if he wanted it, he'd have been in touch with Mary privately, assuming she made QPL aware of her intentions in advance. If she didn't, then of course the whole situation becomes more contentious... |
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 2, 2023 7:16:26 GMT
Without his speculation, we would not have received your speculation ... perhaps we shall see what these items actually are ... soonish It is fun to speculate ... Is it not? My speculation isn't based on a default starting assumption that everything is an unreleased treasure. |
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 2, 2023 7:20:51 GMT
The desk seal has been withdrawn (was lot 2001) What could be the reason for a withdrawal? We can only speculate... - it's actually a USB stick containing a copy of the 16 track Master recording of Hangman - Mary decided to keep it - Sothebys broke it - someone got in touch to say "that was stolen from me" - it turned out to be an NFT |
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 2, 2023 8:01:57 GMT
Here's some photos inside Garden Lodge in HD, including his tapes. Well spotted, but note that the photo is obviously staged: - no way did that guitar live there throughout the 80s - if there was a record on the deck in 1991, it would be really quite dusty by now - there's a copy of Oasis' "Be Here Now" album from 1997 on the shelf.... I also spot a Headlong Hollywood promo CD and a Live in Cologne bootleg The same is true of the bookshelves, with three posthumous biographies (and a statue) added (along with an Artemis Fowl book, first published 2001), and only the most naiive would think that the SYW / WWRY sunglasses lived on his dressing table in perpetuity. Does anyone else get the impression that Mary hasn't actually lived there? To "leave everything as it was" would be very difficult while maintaining a life within it, let alone NOT wearing out the furniture with another 30 years of use. How many of us don't reconfigure our living spaces gradually over time as needs change? Plus, there'd have been no room for her stuff - photos of her kids / grandkids, etc etc. On the other hand - Artemis Fowl and Oasis... |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 2, 2023 8:22:38 GMT
Does anyone else get the impression that Mary hasn't actually lived there? To "leave everything as it was" would be very difficult while maintaining a life within it, let alone NOT wearing out the furniture with another 30 years of use. How many of us don't reconfigure our living spaces gradually over time as needs change? Plus, there'd have been no room for her stuff - photos of her kids / grandkids, etc etc. On the other hand - Artemis Fowl and Oasis... my 2¢ : It would make sense that a place that huge would not really be "fully lived in" by a small modern family. Some rooms were likely left as they were, locked down - with entry being rare, and dust-sheets covering the furniture. The rooms that were "lived in" will show obvious anachronistic signs CDs by Oasis and such-like on shelves. These will have (probably) had photos taken before and refurbs took place and the pre-existing furniture put in storage, to be replaced by Mary's family furniture etc. Once the decision was made to auction stuff, Mary decamped and the original stored furniture etc has been reinstalled. |
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 2, 2023 8:52:25 GMT
That's a fair shout, although there weren't actually that many rooms - four beds, two living spaces, plus dining room and kitchen.
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LT
Tatterdemalion
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Post by LT on Sept 2, 2023 10:05:10 GMT
I was at Sotheby's today and there are loads, yeah. I was surprised at the suggestion they'd be limited edition, they can sell so many. Given that there are 30,000 items, it was always going to be a highlights book. Imagine how heavy it'd be otherwise! I put in a few bids today, and then had a giant panic and thought... what if I win them all?! I kept getting outbid really fast so I put a few more in and now I'm winning a few. All for small things under a grand. But now I feel like I'm panicking a little? LOL. Oh dear. I do want something but I kinda hope I don't win them all now, can you imagine...  Welcome LT! I'm in the US so I won't see the exhibition at Sotheby's but I'm seeing through all of the FB posts as others view the treasures. Like you, I put in a few bids early on. I only bid on one item at a time, but I experienced the same panic you did! What if I win??? Yikes!! The first item I bid on was the little Lalique fish. That bid now stands at 19,000 which is absurd. My guess is that a group of people went in on that and will share the fish. The mild panic I had that I might actually win a bid grew exponentially when it occurred to me that I was bidding in British pounds and that my actual bid was higher in dollar amounts but that didn't stop me. I only bid on one item at a time and for about a week I "owned" one of Freddie's boxes. Eventually I was outbid and I called a halt to my madness. I expect there will be a flurry of last minute bids as the auction nears the end but I will only be watching. I do hope to watch the live auction because I want to see what those items go for and I have never been to an auction and would like to view the process. Lord Fickle, I think you will enjoy the book. I've had it for a while but only started to read it yesterday. We always knew Freddie collected beautiful things, but reading the details of his collection showed me yet another layer of the man. He must have been fascinating to talk to as he shared his knowledge of his possessions. BTW, the actual quality of the book is excellent. Thank you Katy, lovely to be here among friends! Did you see the virtual tour video? It's very good. I slightly panicked and bid for more than one. I'm still in 6 days at the races. I think I will lose them all, though. I really think a glass collector has bid for that alone - ironically the Lalique store is opposite Sotheby's. I think you should bid on one thing and see it through! One of those tacky cats (no offence, Fred) is still at about 600 quid. Imagine owning something he owned? I should confess now that I worked on the book - one of the proudest moments of my life, honestly! |
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LT
Tatterdemalion
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Post by LT on Sept 2, 2023 10:07:53 GMT
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the piano ended up in one of Brian's new homes. The band have resented Mary for 32 years because FM left her his 25% share. He's going to give her more cash? I sincerely doubt it! |
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LT
Tatterdemalion
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Post by LT on Sept 2, 2023 10:08:57 GMT
The desk seal has been withdrawn (was lot 2001) What could be the reason for a withdrawal? The only thing I can think of is that Mary decided she loved it too much and withdrew it. I am certain there are plenty of items she has kept for their sentimental value. Some of the stuff is from storage of course, not everything is from the house. |
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LT
Tatterdemalion
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Post by LT on Sept 2, 2023 10:11:58 GMT
Does anyone else get the impression that Mary hasn't actually lived there? To "leave everything as it was" would be very difficult while maintaining a life within it, let alone NOT wearing out the furniture with another 30 years of use. How many of us don't reconfigure our living spaces gradually over time as needs change? Plus, there'd have been no room for her stuff - photos of her kids / grandkids, etc etc. On the other hand - Artemis Fowl and Oasis... my 2¢ : It would make sense that a place that huge would not really be "fully lived in" by a small modern family. Some rooms were likely left as they were, locked down - with entry being rare, and dust-sheets covering the furniture. The rooms that were "lived in" will show obvious anachronistic signs CDs by Oasis and such-like on shelves. These will have (probably) had photos taken before and refurbs took place and the pre-existing furniture put in storage, to be replaced by Mary's family furniture etc. Once the decision was made to auction stuff, Mary decamped and the original stored furniture etc has been reinstalled. The registered business address for Mary is another one on Logan Place - didn't she have a house across from him? Most likely, that's where she's been living after the kids grew up, the Oasis CDs prob being theirs. Strange to think of it being empty for years but it's clearly been a big wrench to do this for her. The sons are the ones who are dealing with the day to day meetings etc. I hope she's okay, I always respected her a lot. Such a dignified person. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 2, 2023 10:14:29 GMT
The band have resented Mary for 32 years because FM left her his 25% share. your stepping into dangerous "leaping to conclusions" territory there. there has been nothing in the last 32 years to suggest that Brian, Roger or John resent Mary in any way - far from it. Why would three incredibly rich men resent a truly loyal best friend of their bandmate being left his fortune? Someone loyal (like Mary) represents a continued protection of Freddie's interest. Nothing to resent in that. and point of order: FM did NOT leave Mary his 25% share of Queen. He left her 12½% - with the other 12½% going to his parents and sister. Admittedly when his parents died, Mary's share increased to 18¾% and his sister's share became 6¼%. |
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Sept 2, 2023 10:15:34 GMT
My book shipped yesterday, so they're obviously shifting them again. Knowing our post it will arrive after the auction. 🙄
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billy
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Post by billy on Sept 2, 2023 13:57:05 GMT
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the piano ended up in one of Brian's new homes. My money’s on Elton John. |
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Post by Doughnut on Sept 2, 2023 14:13:05 GMT
I was there yesterday. It’s crazy the amount that Freddie collected over the years . The Japanese furniture looks brand new so it has been cared for very well . It’s not all to my taste but some are. The amount of art work he had is also outstanding.
I enjoyed seeing how stage clothes the most ; he really was very petite.
When Mary opened GL to OK magazine in 2000 , GL looked fully furnished as it was and. Freddie was alive . Her recent interview gave me the impression much of the furniture and art work etc was still as it was all these years . I’m not so sure it was in storage. I felt that all his belongings gave her comfort and she enjoyed being immersed in them but now is finally able to close the chapter of her life .
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Post by Doughnut on Sept 2, 2023 14:15:56 GMT
There are two pianos up for auction , the one he used the most (I assume ) has a label with an estimated bid of up to 3 million .
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 2, 2023 15:31:46 GMT
I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the piano ended up in one of Brian's new homes. My money’s on Elton John. i'd bet on Billy Joel - after all he is the piano man - i'm here all week  |
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Post by katydyd5 on Sept 2, 2023 15:49:55 GMT
Thank you Katy, lovely to be here among friends! Did you see the virtual tour video? It's very good. I slightly panicked and bid for more than one. I'm still in 6 days at the races. I think I will lose them all, though. I really think a glass collector has bid for that alone - ironically the Lalique store is opposite Sotheby's. I think you should bid on one thing and see it through! One of those tacky cats (no offence, Fred) is still at about 600 quid. Imagine owning something he owned? I should confess now that I worked on the book - one of the proudest moments of my life, honestly!
I've regained control of my sanity and I'm not going to bid anymore. The things I'd really want are way beyond my purse and I'm not a cat person so the cats, while still affordable just don't call my name. Owning something Freddie owned would be a dream, but one that won't come true for me.
You worked on the book? Care to share more? |
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 2, 2023 16:03:42 GMT
That's a fair shout, although there weren't actually that many rooms - four beds, two living spaces, plus dining room and kitchen. 28 rooms (originally built with 7 or 8 bedrooms and an attic) whatever the current function of those rooms, they are still "rooms" and an acre of prime West London grounds. |
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Post by transitorydreams on Sept 2, 2023 17:55:13 GMT
I’d hoped to bid on the Barcelona scores, but they’re over £1000 now, so out of my range! I did order the book from Hatchards though & it’s been posted.
Some of those clothing lots with no bids like 5 jumpers etc. would be such a cool thing for a group of Freddie-friends to bid on & split, one each! 😁 I suspect during the actual auctions, everything might go for far more though.
Still, so interesting to see it all. I used to travel to London a lot pre-COVID, but I live with someone vulnerable & so haven’t been able to travel down to see the exhibition which has made me feel sad. But oh well. I’d have especially loved to have seen the papers with the composition of my favourite song, You Take my Breath Away. And the lacquer piano too. So memory-full in terms of iconic Freddie photo memories!
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Post by kristinaz91 on Sept 3, 2023 5:24:20 GMT
Hope it's alright to ask this...noticed in addition to lot 2001 being withdrawn most of the lots with Mick Rock photos have been withdrawn too but I can't seem to figure out which ones were 2015, 2318 and 1504 those are all missing as well. Does anyone know? I had made a pdf of all the lots but those were not there the others were hence why I am asking (hope it's alright that I'm bringing this up)
I also noticed they added new copyright notice on alot of lots (such as many of his more iconic pieces of clothing, sketches and lyrics) about putting it on display and how you need permission from QPL. My bet is alot of music museums(is that what they are called?) are probably interested and want to display them like how Hard Rock has with some outfits.
Many of them now read:
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Post by ThomasQuinn on Sept 3, 2023 8:55:05 GMT
I don't know about British law, but in The Netherlands a condition that you can't exhibit an item you buy would be null-and-void, such a restriction cannot be applied to items sold - at best, you could make it a non-binding agreement. It certainly is not part of international copyright law. And yes, I know what I'm talking about, I manage a museum.
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BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 3, 2023 10:06:52 GMT
I don't know about British law, but in The Netherlands a condition that you can't exhibit an item you buy would be null-and-void, such a restriction cannot be applied to items sold - at best, you could make it a non-binding agreement. It certainly is not part of international copyright law. And yes, I know what I'm talking about, I manage a museum. i was just going to say similar. They (QPL) can stipulate all they like, but once someone owns something it is theirs to display (or not) how they choose. This is exactly why so much of Hirst, Warhol, Hockney, Banksie etc periodically appear in public displays - all these works will have some copyright attached to them |
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pg
Queen Mab
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Post by pg on Sept 4, 2023 12:01:21 GMT
That's a fair shout, although there weren't actually that many rooms - four beds, two living spaces, plus dining room and kitchen. 28 rooms (originally built with 7 or 8 bedrooms and an attic) whatever the current function of those rooms, they are still "rooms" and an acre of prime West London grounds. Some "knocking through" has occurred... Reconfigured in the 60s
Again in the 70sBy 1981, down to 4 beds... |
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