Freddie Mercury’s fans have been fainting at the sight of 1,400 of his possessions (Picture: Getty/pa)
Legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury had some flamboyant costumes and now fans can peek at unseen possessions before they get auctioned.
Thousands of Mercury’s personal belongings are on display at auction house Sotheby’s, including his piano at which he wrote We Are The Champions.
The collection comes from items left to close friend Mary Austin, who inherited the singer’s London home and all its contents on his death aged 45.
Austin has kept most of the possessions private since that time, including numerous Polaroids of Queen throughout their career.
Amid the collection are incredibly rare, one of a kind, lyric sheets, including a handwritten draft for Bohemian Rhapsody.
Now, Austin, 72, has decided to put many of these prized possessions up for sale – with a portion of proceeds going to AIDs charities.
Freddie Mercury’s personal belongings are up for sale (Picture: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
His crown and cape are part of this private collection (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The exhibit will remain open until September 5 (Picture: John Rainford / SplashNews.com)
Garden Lodge, Kensington, was the last residence of Mercury and he lived there from 1980 until his death on November 24, 1991.
It was also home to Peter Wilson at one time, who was a former chairman of Sotheby’s, which is hosting the collection.
Stage costumes, his iconic crown, art by Salvador Dali and a large collection of ceramic cats makes up much of the 1,400 pieces – as well as a game of travel Scrabble.
Wardrobe pieces and stage costumes are also on display (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
Some of his rooms have been recreated (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
Handwritten lyric drafts are also visible(Picture: John Rainford/Queen Music Ltd-Sony Music Publishing UK Ltd /SplashNews.com)
His collection of record-breaking albums are up for grabs (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
All 15 of Sotheby’s galleries will be dedicated to the collection, showcasing parts of the Somebody to Love singer’s life.
Visitors can walk through the time capsule, featuring recreations of his bedroom, bar, and dining room, before it goes on sale next month.
Mercury’s fascination with Japan is on full display with rooms full of vases, artwork, and huge numbers of Japanese clothing and kimonos, some of which are estimated at £11,000.
Included in this is the famous red satin silk kimono decorated with fans, which he wore on stage during the 1976 tour of the country.
His tiny gold Cartier brooch can be seen (Picture: Daniel LEAL /AFP)
The vast collection covers 1,400 pieces (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
Personal items are mixed with historic costumes (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
Even more iconic is the regal outfit worn on his last tour with Queen in 1986 – The Magic Tour – which includes a crown and cape.
The real crown jewel though is Mercury’s own Yamaha G2 baby grand piano, valued at up to £3 million, on which he composed some of Queen’s greatest hits.
Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s European chairman, said fans have been crying and fainting at the exhibition and coming from all over the world – even dressed in memorabilia.
‘I think that there is something a little bit different about this,’ he said.
Even his collection of books are at the exhibit (Picture: PA)
Mercury had a painting from a fan at his home (Picture: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
He also had collection of feline ornaments in a variety of decorative styles (Picture: PA)
‘I think that because Freddie is just so revered, and I think we’re showing the private side of his life, conversely with public life, which has never been explored before.
‘So I genuinely think this is a piece of archaeological history-making, happening now.’
The exhibition, Freddie Mercury: A World of his Own, is open until September 5, 2023, which would have been Mercury’s 77th birthday.
After this six dedicated auctions will open up to anyone hoping to take home a piece of music history.
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It features some unseen historic items.
