Items belonging to Princess Diana and Mark Twain headed to auction

By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter

Items belonging to Princess Diana and renowned writer Mark Twain are among the lots expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of pounds when they go under the hammer.

They are among several star-studded lots headed to auction, including a bedazzled glove worn by the late Michael Jackson as part of a collection of his wardrobe pieces, and are expected to fetch up to $60,000 (€51,000).

Items connected to musicians including Kurt Cobain, Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter will also be up for sale later this year as Julien’s Auctions launches its inaugural celebrity and culture week in the United Arab Emirates with three headline auctions.

A navy blue evening gown designed by Catherine Walker worn by the late princess in 1995 is among the highlights of the Princess Diana: Influence, Fashion and A Royal Collection, and hopes to sell for $200,000 to $400,000 (€171,000 to €342,000).

The sale is comprised of historically important and personal items worn by Diana, such as a pair of suede driving loafers worn during her 1997 visit to Angola, which could fetch up to £30,000 dollars (€35,000).

Meanwhile, a Ralph Lauren shirt worn by the late princess during her visit to landmine survivors in Bosnia could sell for between $10,000 and $20,000.

Other offerings include the Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Auction, which has been hailed as the “largest and most unprecedented collection of stage costumes, accessories, video-worn and iconic wardrobe pieces” from the King of Pop.

The loafers worn in his famous Thriller music video are estimated to sell for between $20,000 and $40,000 dollars, and a jacket worn during his Bad World Tour in the 1980s could fetch up to $80,000.

Other items going under the hammer include one of six light-up jackets made for his Thriller performances, which is up for $30,000 to $50,000.

The Pop Culture Legends auction will feature items spanning music, film, fashion and contemporary culture, including items connected to chart-topping singers such as Madonna and Amy Winehouse, as well as street artist Banksy.

The yellow nunchaku associated with Bruce Lee’s 1978 martial arts film Game Of Death is among the lots for sale and is expected to fetch between $30,000 and $50,000.

A guitar owned by writer Twain is expected to fetch $200,000, while a stage-worn jacket belonging to the late Nirvana frontman Cobain is estimated to sell for $20,000 and $40,000.

A played guitar that once belonged to the singer, who died by suicide in 1994 aged 27, will also be up for sale and is estimated to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000.

Other items involved in the sale, which will take place in December, are connected to stars such as Espresso singer Carpenter, as well as Van Halen frontman Eddie Van Halen, among others.

The American auction house will also present a “museum-quality exhibition” using highlights from the three sales during the multi-day experience, reflecting its commitment to preserving and celebrating global cultural heritage.

Martin Nolan, the co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said: “We are building an international destination where culture, storytelling, collecting, luxury and innovation come together, bringing some of the world’s most extraordinary cultural treasures to Abu Dhabi.”

Further information about the upcoming event will be announced in the coming months on www.juliensauctions.com.