They were two of the biggest rock icons who died too young and now Freddie Mercury has broken a John Lennon record.
This week the Queen singer’s personal possessions have been up for auction at Sotheby’s in London.
The star’s composing piano and handwritten Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics may have gone for $1.7 million and $1.4 million respectively, but they were hardly the largest gaps from their original estimates.
One of the biggest shocks of the opening night was how much Freddie’s silver snake bangle went for.
Worn by the singer in the 1975 Bohemian Rhapsody music video, the lot was estimated at £7000-9000.
After a round of rapid-fire bidding, Freddie’s Victorian-style bangle went for a whopping £698,500, which was almost 100 times its original estimate.
As a result, this sum of almost three-quarters of a million pounds is a new record for a piece of jewellery that belonged to a rock star.
The previous record, which has been smashed by more than double, was held by John Lennon’s leather and bead talisman, which sold for £295,000 back in 2008.
Other Freddie Mercury auctions coming up at Sotheby’s are as follows:
“On Stage” Live Auction, 7 September, 10 AM
“At Home” Live Auction, 8 September, Session 1: 10 AM, Session 2: 2 PM
“In Love with Japan” Online Auction, 11 August – 11 September, 10 AM
“Crazy Little Things” Part One Online Auction, 11 August – 12 September, 10 AM
“Crazy Little Things” Part Two Online Auction, 11 August – 13 September, 10 AM
