Michael Jackson, Princess Diana memorabilia set for Abu Dhabi auction

Rare items linked to Michael Jackson and Princess Diana are among the major pieces expected to be auctioned in Abu Dhabi this December

ABU DHABI: Rare items linked to Michael Jackson and Princess Diana are among the major pieces expected to be auctioned in Abu Dhabi this December.

Julien’s Auctions will hold its first regional Celebrity & Culture Week at Rosewood Abu Dhabi from December 5 to 10. The event will feature three auctions covering music, fashion, film and popular culture.

One of the main attractions is a crystal-covered glove worn by Michael Jackson during a 2002 Vibe magazine cover shoot. The glove is estimated to sell for between $40,000 and $60,000.

Jackson’s memorabilia will also include the loafers he wore in the famous Thriller music video. The shoes are expected to fetch between $20,000 and $40,000 and come with a personal letter to choreographer Michael Peters.

Two jackets from Jackson’s Bad era will also be offered. One was created by his longtime costume designers Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins. It was signed and donated by Jackson to the TJ Martell Foundation and carries an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.

Another jacket is one of six light-up Thriller performance jackets made for the singer. It is estimated at between $30,000 and $50,000.

Princess Diana’s collection is another major attraction at the auction. Among the highlights is a midnight-blue Catherine Walker gown she wore at the 1995 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York.

Diana wore the dress while presenting an award to fashion editor Liz Tilberis. The gown is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $400,000, making it the most valuable announced lot so far.

Other Diana items include suede Selfridges driving loafers that she wore during a 1997 visit to a landmine field in Angola. They are estimated at $20,000 to $30,000.

A Ralph Lauren shirt worn by Diana during a visit to landmine survivors in Bosnia in 1997 is also going under the hammer. It has an estimated value of $10,000 to $20,000.

The auction house has described the Diana collection as its largest Diana-focused sale so far. The items reflect several important moments from her public life and humanitarian work.

The third auction, titled Pop Culture Legends, will feature memorabilia connected to several other famous personalities. The list includes Bruce Lee, Banksy, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Madonna, Eddie Van Halen and Sabrina Carpenter.

A guitar once owned by American writer Mark Twain is currently among the most valuable items in this section. It is estimated to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000.

Kurt Cobain memorabilia will include a guitar played by the Nirvana frontman, valued at $60,000 to $80,000. A jacket worn by Cobain on stage is expected to sell for $20,000 to $40,000.

Bruce Lee fans will also have an opportunity to bid on the yellow nunchaku used by the martial arts star in the 1978 film Game of Death. The item is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000.

The Abu Dhabi event will combine live auctions with a museum-style exhibition. Visitors will be able to see selected memorabilia before the items are offered to bidders.

Julien’s has yet to release the complete catalogues for all three auctions. The final value of the entire collection therefore remains unknown.

The 11 highlights announced so far have combined estimates ranging from $590,000 to $1.05 million, equivalent to approximately Dh2.17 million to Dh3.86 million.

Julien’s Auctions co-founder and executive director Martin Nolan said the inclusion of Jackson and Diana reflected their strong international appeal and links to the UAE.