He also had an eye for beauty and a passion for art, all of which is revealed in a fascinating exhibition of his vast and eclectic private collection that opened last week.
The lavish contents of his beloved home, Garden Lodge in Kensington, where the Queen frontman lived when in London, have gone on display for the first time at Sotheby’s auction house ahead of being sold next month, when they are expected to fetch between £7m and £11m. The auction’s centrepiece alone, the Yamaha baby grand piano on which he composed hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, could sell for £3m.
“I like to be surrounded by splendid things,” Freddie once said. “I want to lead the Victorian life, surrounded by exquisite clutter.”
He was a man true to his word. Among the 1,500 items in Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, are Victorian oil paintings and prints by some of the world’s greatest artists, 19th-century French cabinets, Fabergé clocks, antique glassware and art nouveau lamps.
CROWNING GLORY
There are also his spectacular stage costumes, some of which are works of art and could be the most popular items in the sale.
“Freddie always said: ‘I want to be seen at the back. If people have paid to see me, they’ve got to see me on stage,’ and you can really see that with some of the outfits. They are like beacons,” says Sotheby’s senior director David Macdonald, who curated the exhibition and is overseeing the auction. “He’d engage with the designers and talk to them about how he saw things. He’d also embroider himself.”
Denne historien er fra August 14, 2023-utgaven av HELLO! UK.
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Denne historien er fra August 14, 2023-utgaven av HELLO! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
AS 'THE DIPLOMAT RETURNS KERI RUSSELL
ON HAVING FUN WITH RUFUS SEWELL, MEETING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND BEING STRAPPED TO TOM CRUISE
FROM HIS CHALLENGING CHILDHOOD TO HOLLYWOOD'S HOT LIST BARRY KEOGHAN
ON BEING DRAWN TO STRONG WOMEN AND ENJOYING LIFE WITH HIS LITTLE BOY
AS 'THE SUBSTANCE' IS RELEASED MARGARET QUALLEY
ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM BALLET TO HOLLYWOOD
BUSY MUM-TO-BE AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE
TEAMS UP WITH SISTER PRINCESS EUGENIE TO SUPPORT THEIR FATHER IN HIS EXILE FROM ROYAL LIFE
CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S HEALTH THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH
HONOURS 60 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING CHARITY
AS ONE DIRECTION REUNITE TO BID FAREWELL TO FORMER BANDMATE LIAM PAYNE
HUGS AND TEARS AS MOURNING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
CELEBRATING HER GAME-CHANGING NEW CONCEALER VICTORIA'S SECRETS
THE DESIGNER SHARES HER TOP SKINCARE TIPS AND REVEALS WHICH PRODUCTS HARPER LOVES TO STEAL
CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN
JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'
CONTINUING A FESTIVE TRADITION - WITH A TINY NEW TREAT TO DELIGHT VISITORS WINDSOR CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS
STAFF DECK THE HALLS - AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROYAL DOLLS' HOUSE
SNAPPING UP RECORD-BREAKING £60M MANSION IN MIAMI THE BECKHAMS
WE GO INSIDE THEIR BILLION-DOLLAR LIFESTYLE AS THE FAMILY PREPARE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAND