viaChristie’s New York Pop Culture: Punk/Rock sale on November 24 will continue to bring fresh, new markets to auction with a Punk and Rock collection, and a selection of Designer Toys.
PUNKThe sale is highlighted with imagery and artifacts of the late seventies and early eighties Punk explosion from both sides of the Atlantic. The most important venues, bands, designers and writers of the Punk movement are showcased through fanzines, flyers, posters, t-shirts, records and photographs. With over 120 lots, estimates range from $300 to $6,000. Musicians and bands include; Blondie, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Mick Rock, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Sid Vicious, The Clash, The Cure, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Smiths, and The Velvet Underground.
Posters and flyers featured include — a rare concert poster for The Ramones seminal appearance at the Roundhouse, July 4, 1976, which notably attracted other bands in the audience such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned (estimate: $2,000 – 3,000); the most significant Punk flyer to appear at auction, The Screen on the Green Presents a Midnight Special featuring Sex Pistols + Clash + Buzzcocks, August 29, 1976 (estimate: $3,000 – 4,000); and a flyer for The Clash, The Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Slits at The Coliseum, March 11, 1977 (estimate: $1,500 – 2,000).
A complete press kit from the 1977-78 U.S. Tour of The Sex Pistols is signed on the cover by Malcom McLaren and includes signed publicity photos by Johnny Rotten, Paul Cook, Steve Jones and Sid Vicious (estimate: $5,000 - 6,000). The first piece of tattoo memorabilia to appear at auction is a hand-crafted, Art Deco-style chest created by the legendary and influential tattoo artist Amund Deitzel (1890 – 1973), for use in his tattoo parlor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (estimate: $3,000 – 5,000).
DESIGNER TOYSAfter introducing Designer Toys to the auction market in Christie’s June Pop Culture sale, Christie’s is pleased to offer an expanded selection of over 25 lots in the November sale, with estimates starting at $100. This twenty-first century art movement is a unique multidisciplinary mode of expression, which employs painting, sculpture, graphic design, fashion, graffiti, industrial design, metal craft, and woodworking. This is a movement that has brought art to the masses and sits between the worlds of fine and commercial art.
Highlights include — Frank Kozik’s complete sets of his ‘Ludwig Van’ and ‘Ho Chi Minh’ busts (estimate: $3,000 - $4,000 each); KAWS’ ‘4ft. Companion’ (estimate: $7,000 - $9,000); and Huck Gee’s Customized Mega Munny (estimate: $4,000 - $5,000). Other artists represented are; Suckadelic, Carlos Enriquez Gonzales, Amanda Visell, Cupco, Luke Chueh, Dalek, Thomas Han, and Mark Nagata. Manufacturers include; Munky King, Kidrobot, Medicom, and Max Toy Co.
ROCKSeveral rare and well-documented concert instruments are features in the auction. An exciting highlight is the Vox Continental Portable Organ played by John Lennon at the historic Shea Stadium concert, August 15, 1965, the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, August 13, 1965, and at the studio recording of I’m Down (estimate: $150,000 – 200,000). The concert at Shea Stadium is arguably one of the most famous in rock history. Lennon’s memorable frenzied rendition of I’m Down, while pounding on the organ, resulted in it not working properly for the next show. The organ has since been repaired and is fully functional.
A Yamaha SC 1000 electric guitar owned and played in concert by Bob Marley during the final worldwide tour of Bob Marley and The Wailers in 1979, is another highlight (estimate: $30,000 – 40,000). Marley was presented with the guitar upon his visit to the Yamaha factory in Hamamatsu during the Tokyo leg of the tour, and photographs of legendary singer playing at Tokyo and Osaka venues are sold with the guitar.
A collection of three original tapes and five handwritten boxes by Jimi Hendrix are available from the famous sessions that would become the classic album Electric Ladyland (estimate: $20,000 – 30,000). The boxes include handwritten production notes and were given to a member of the The Amen Corner, who toured with Hendrix in the UK.
Other highlights include a bass guitar played by a young Kurt Cobain while recording demos at his Aunt’s house in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1982 and 1985 (estimate: $60,000 – 80,000). For fans and collectors of the Beastie Boys, is the original artwork for the cover of the band’s 1986 debut album License to Ill by David Gambale (estimate: $20,000 – 30,000).
