BOSTON, Feb 9 — Items previously belonging to the Minneapolis-born artist, who died April 21, 2016, age 57, are set to go under the hammer in the USA. A first sale will be held February 8-15 at RR Auction house in Boston, with a further sale by Julien’s Auction held May 18 at New York’s Hard Rock Cafe.
Purple Rain
At the Boston auction, fans of the Controversy singer can bid for more than 200 items having previously belonged to the artist. Unsurprisingly, the colour purple features heavily in the catalogue for this sale, held by RR Auction, February 8-15.
Highlights include a pair of purple boots previously worn on stage by Prince. These custom-made heeled boots have a black leather interior and purple satin exterior. The zippers on the sides are decorated with large silver charms in the shape of the “Love Symbol,” the symbol that became Prince’s stage name following a dispute with his record label.
Other lots include a purple piano, supposedly Prince’s favourite piano, a pair of Prince’s purple pants, plus a stage microphone from the second half of the Purple Rain tour, 1984-1985.
Gifts to exes
The second sale, held in New York by Julien’s Auction, May 18, will include more purple attire, as well as the Schecter “White Cloud” electric guitar commissioned by Prince in 2002, echoing the design of the guitar used in the Purple Rain film.
Other lots include an electric blue outfit worn during a concert at Paisley Park with Lenny Kravitz, and a pair of red satin boots, again featuring the “Love Symbol.”
Some items going under the hammer evoke Prince’s old flames, such as a letter written in purple ink to his first wife Mayte Garcia, apologising for director Lisa Bonet not picking her to feature in his Walk Don’t Walk video. There’s also a faux-diamond bracelet that Prince gave to his former fiancée Susannah Melvoin.
Prince Rogers Nelson died April 21, 2016, age 57, from an overdose of pain medication. — AFP-Relaxnews
