Key Takeaways
- Julien’s Auctions will bring rare Michael Jackson memorabilia, Princess Diana fashion and pop culture collectibles to Rosewood Abu Dhabi for its first UAE event beginning Dec. 7.
- Jackson’s collection includes the late musician’s signed “Thriller” jacket and Motown 25 white glove.
- The Pop Culture Legends sale features signed artwork by Banksy, a guitar used by Prince and a leather jacket worn by K
Julien's Auctions will take iconic pieces from Michael Jackson, Diana, Princess of Wales and Banksy to the Middle East.
On Nov. 9, the famed auction house opened bidding for several sales: Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy, Princess Diana: Influence, Fashion, & A Royal Collection, and Pop Culture Legends. The sale will take place during the Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, the auction house's first event in the UAE.
The Jackson sale includes more than 100 pieces the late pop icon wore onstage and in music videos, many created by his longtime costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush.
Among items that are available for bidding are the white glove from Jackson’s legendary 1983 Motown 25 performance, estimated at $600,000-$800,000. The loafers he wore during the event, where he demonstrated his first-ever Moonwalk, have an estimate of $60,000-$80,000.
Also up for bidding are Florsheim loafers that the King of Pop wore in his 1982 "Thriller" video, which come with a signed letter, with a price of $30,000-$50,000. The signed red and black leather "Thriller" jacket was one of just two created for the video, which Jackson later gave to Tompkins and Bush. The estimate for the iconic outerwear is available on request.
The Princess Diana sale focuses on clothing and accessories that she wore during charity engagements. For sale are highlights like Diana’s 1995 Catherine Walker navy gown she wore to a CFDA event and a 1993 Victor Edelstein midnight blue silk crepe gown from the Serpentine Gallery, both estimated at $200,000-$400,000.
Under the Pop Culture Legends category are works spanning music, visual art and film. These pieces include Banksy's signed Grim Reaper painting "Brace Yourself!" at $2 million-$3 million; Prince's metallic blue 1993 Cloud guitar, built by Kurt Nelson and authenticated through Paisley Park estate records, at $300,000-$600,000; and Kurt Cobain's leather jacket from the 1991 Reading Festival and the Nevermind photoshoot, estimated at $20,000-$40,000.
The live sales open at 8 p.m. GST on Dec. 7 with the Jackson evening auction. Pop Culture Legends follows on Dec. 8, and the Princess Diana sale concludes the auction at 8 p.m. GST on Dec. 9.
