Garments and artifacts from Prince’s US$200 million estate go under the hammer
Iconic pop star’s stuff was auctioned at the Hard Rock Cafe New York last Friday
Admit it, U Want the Look. On May 18, Julien’s Auctions put garments, artifacts, and objects from the life and career of Prince under the hammer. In July, for true super fans, Premiere Properties will auction the musician’s five-acre, 10,000 sq ft Turks & Caicos Estate.
The icon died two years ago without a will, leaving his US$200 million estate in probate hell, with entertainment lawyers charged with maximising value before potential heirs step in. Graceland Holdings, which has overseen Elvis Presley’s Graceland since 1982, has taken control of Paisley Park, Prince’s home and production complex just outside Minneapolis. But not all of the pop star’s stuff is staying there.
Auction lots include a five-piece set of custom wedding china for his first marriage to Mayte Garcia – mother to Prince’s only children, neither of whom survived infancy – and many of his stage-worn bespoke ensembles, including a purple, long-sleeve turtleneck jumpsuit with purple glitter sequins. More wearable, perhaps, is a pendant in 14ct yellow gold, topped with a round cabochon amethyst and ending in 19 pave-set full-cut round diamonds.
Part of the appeal is that Prince didn’t merely go shopping at luxury boutiques for his many glittery things. Minneapolis is home to one of the most robust theatre communities in the world, and Prince took full advantage, hiring an army of world-class costume designers and fabricators that were just a purple motorcycle ride away.
“He never wore ready-made clothing,” says Prince scholar Karen Turman. Even his beach estate in Turks & Caicos was customised to have a purple driveway
Liz Bucheit, from Crown Trout Jewelers in Lanesboro, Minnesota, was a contractor for Paisley Park from 1991 to 1994, between the “Batman” and “Love Symbol” eras. She made shoe buckles and zipper pulls (such as Lot 46), plus most other jewellery that Prince and his performers wore during that time. “I cut so many ‘Love Sexy Symbols out of brass in a lot of different sizes,” Bucheit says. “He put them on everything, and they took a lot of time to finish and polish.”
We asked her and Turman to give us an insider’s look at the parts of his legacy that are up for grabs.
How involved was Prince?