LONDON.- Sotheby’s announced today that personal artefacts from the collections of rock ‘n’ roll royalty Amy Winehouse and Marianne Faithfull will be included in the highly anticipated inaugural popular culture auction, with bidding opening online from Thursday 29 August 2024, accompanied by a dedicated exhibition in the New Bond Street galleries from Monday 9 to 12 September.

Amy’s best friend, singer-songwriter, Tyler James whose longstanding and devoted relationship with Amy was well documented during the talented singer’s short life, is bringing several artefacts from the GRAMMY® Award winners personal archive to auction. A personalised two-tone, red, and black retro-style bowling shirt, which Winehouse was pictured wearing during July 2008 after leaving a night out with friends in Camden will be up for sale. In reference to Winehouse’s recent 2007 marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil, the shirt is customised and embroidered “Amy Civil” above the breast pocket.

The collection also includes an autographed manuscript decorated with heart-doodles all along the left margin and written in blue ink pen on a single sheet of lined yellow notebook paper where Winehouse is drafting what would become the third single from her debut album, Frank entitled ‘Cherry’ about her relationship with her guitar. A five-page manuscript will also go under the hammer, written in black ballpoint ink on white lined notebook paper. The first sheet is a list of tracks in Winehouse’s hand, also decorated with heart-doodles on the top right and left corners. The second sheet is a loose, graphite illustration of a pin-up girl—a recurring theme of Winehouse’s during this period. This pin-up drawing depicts a woman with large eyes, lips, and a feathered haircut, titled simply, “Mishel.” The final set of three sheets are draft lyrics from unreleased songs such as ‘Like Smoke’ and ‘Knights Before.’

Tyler James said: ‘Amy left a legacy, that, like her music will live on forever and nothing will ever be as treasured to me as my relationship with Amy. I have several artefacts that represent Amy’s creative genius and give an insight into her beautiful soul. Sharing these items with Amy’s fans is the start of a new journey for me and a new chapter of my life in wanting to help others and give something back. I know in my heart Amy would wholeheartedly support it.’

With 60 years of creative public life as a singer, songwriter, artist and actress under her belt, Marianne Faithfull has amassed an eclectic and unique collection of artefacts including a series of stunning photographs taken in Dublin by Bruce Weber for Vogue; her acoustic Martin guitar – her first one was a gift from her parents, which Marianne describes as ‘an essential 60s accessory – no self-respecting folky was without one!’ alongside her brass ashtray, signed British passport which expired in 1998, a series of Decca printed autograph cards to accompany each of Marianne’s single and album releases and a black and red artwork of a female figure by Anita Pallenberg dated 1992 and dedicated and inscribed “fashion or no fashion” / this is the question / To Marianne, forerunner of all fashion.

Pallenberg gave Marianne several drawings and watercolours over the years. Describing her, Marianne said: ‘People think of Anita in one way – a 60s muse, all that shit – but she was so much more than that. She was a talented artist, as well as being a great actor. She was intelligent, funny, thoughtful, fearless… she truly didn’t care what anybody thought of her. Anita started doing all the things she could have done, after stopping the drugs. Many years later, in the early 1990s, she did a fashion degree at Central Saint Martins, and she started to paint again, and she did life classes. She did some wonderful watercolours – she painted Shell Cottage when I was living in Ireland. She taught me so much about clothes and how to dress, really it was Anita that was the ‘forerunner of all fashion.’

Discussing the cultural significance of Marianne’s auction collection, Katherine Schofield, Head of Popular Culture, Sotheby’s, EMEA, said: ‘The name Marianne Faithfull is synonymous with a revolutionary time for youth culture and conjures up images of liberation and the epitome of bohemian rock chic. To bring items from her personal collection for auction, spanning her songwriting, performance, acting and fashion memories has been extremely insightful and a true privilege and provides an intimate look into the original queen of rock and roll. Together with the personal artefacts relating to Amy Winehouse, we are honoured to feature two British female trailblazers in our inaugural Popular Culture sale in London.’

Luxury pieces from Marianne’s coveted wardrobe will also go under the hammer, with three Chanel jackets, one sequinned, one with black and white lace and one with fur cuffs, gifted personally by Karl Lagerfeld. The collection also features an exquisite Saint Laurent smoking jacket [and trousers], which Marianne describes as a masterpiece; a bespoke vintage velvet dress worn to celebrate Marianne’s return to music with the release of her single The Way You Want Me To Be which featured in the Daily Mail in 1978; and jackets by Chloe and John Galliano.

Marianne said: ’Clothes have always been very important to me. To feel exquisitely dressed allowed me to become ‘Marianne Faithfull’ - to feel ready. I’ve known so many of the great designers and they were all necessary in helping me create the ‘fabulous beast’ – my public persona.

I got to know Karl when I lived in Paris, and he would invite me to his shows. I love what he did at Chanel, and you can’t go wrong with a Chanel jacket, it’s like wearing professional armour. Fashion isn’t always practical, but a Chanel jacket is.’

The collection also includes an oil painting and tribute to Henrietta Moraes by Maggi Hambling, several scripts from films starring Marianne such as The Black Rider and Marie Antoinette directed by Sofia Coppola, handwritten lyrics for songs from some of Marianne’s most admired albums including Sleep, There Is A Ghost and Sex with Strangers; photographs of Marianne by the likes of Gered Mankowitz and Michael Cooper in two highly collectible monographs, vintage prints including one taken by her former husband John Dunbar on their honeymoon when Marianne was pregnant with their son, alongside concert set lists and posters.

The WHO Quadrophenia Tour Vespa

A Vespa GS Scooter used on The WHO’s Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 and estimated at between £20,000 and £30,000, is also being sold for charity on behalf of Teenage Cancer Trust. It was ridden by Billy Idol on stage as Ace Face and lovingly restored and kept by Roger Daltrey following the tour.

Legendary lead singer of The WHO Roger Daltrey CBE said: ‘This scooter was purchased by The WHO for the 1996 Quadrophenia Tour. In every show it appeared onstage ridden by Billy Idol, a genuine Ace Face riding a genuine 1964 Vespa GS scooter. Back in the early days this was the scooter every Mod would have wanted, but only an Ace Face could afford. It has been lovingly restored for Teenage Cancer Trust with genuine 60’s parts and runs as good today as when it left the factory in Italy in the 60s. We took it out on tour with The Who again last year and raised nearly £20k for Teenage Cancer Trust just from people donating to take selfies! In my opinion it’s worth at least five times that to actually own it, it is the ultimate piece of WHO memorabilia. So dig deep!’