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.”
この記事は HELLO! UK の August 14, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は HELLO! UK の August 14, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
DREAM ESCAPES
Take in the beauty of Japan's former imperial capital, from its temples and tea houses to serene moments in nature
SPICE BOY
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is among the stars fuelling the craze for hot sauces, from spicy peppers to hot honey
CILLIAN MURPHY
AFTER HIS OSCAR-WINNING TURN IN 'OPPENHEIMER' CILLIAN MURPHY BRINGS IT BACK HOME WITH POWERFUL NEW FILM SET IN IRELAND - AND DROPS 'PEAKY BLINDERS' MOVIE HINTS
MARKING REMEMBRANCE DAY - THE DUKE OF SUSSEX
PAYS HEARTFELT TRIBUTE AS HE MAKES SWEET GESTURE TO BEREAVED CHILDREN
THE ROYAL FAMILY PAY THEIR RESPECTS ON REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
HONOURING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY
MAKING IT A RIGHT ROYAL NIGHT - 'GLADIATOR II'
THE KING WALKS THE RED CARPET AT FILM'S STARRY WORLD PREMIERE
FRESH FROM THE 'WICKED' PREMIERE - ARIANA GRANDE
ON HER CLOSE BOND WITH 'WARMEST HUMAN' CYNTHIA ERIVO
AFTER REVEALING HER DECISION TO HAVE SURGERY FOR A BRAIN TUMOUR - DAVINA MCCALL CELEBRITY FRIENDS SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT AFTER SHOCK NEWS
Stars including Amanda Holden and Holly Willoughby have offered heartfelt support to Davina McCall after she revealed she was undergoing an operation to remove a brain tumour.
THE KING AND QUEEN
AS DAMIAN LEWIS PRAISES CAMILLA'S RECENT T.V. TURN - THE KING AND QUEEN HOST STAR-STUDDED RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE FOR FAMOUS BIG AND SMALL-SCREEN FACES
CELINE DION AND JENNIFER LOPEZ - STEAL THE SHOW AT LAVISH FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA
HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES