adminJune 25, 2009 is one of a number of items from his rented Los Angeles home which are going under the hammer next month.
Julien’s auctions will also sell various artworks, antiques and furnishings from the house – located at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the city’s Beverly Hills area – where Michael had lived since 2008, and was using as a base while he prepared for his “This is It” comeback shows in London.
Darren Julien, president of Julien’s Auctions, said: “We want to preserve the history of these items.”
Among the other items up for sale is a chalkboard from the home’s kitchen which has “I [heart] Daddy. SMILE, it’s for free,” written in childlike text – presumably by one of Michael’s three children, Prince
(14), Paris (13) and Blanket (9), who were also living at the house.
Reporters who have toured the property also told how in one bedroom the “King of Pop” had written “TRAIN, perfection, March April. FULL OUT May,” on the mirror of an antique armoire, in reference his rehearsals. However, it is not clear if that particular piece will be auctioned.
Other lots include artworks by Henri Emilien Rousseau and Maurice Utrillo, estimated to sell for up to US$30 000 each.
News of the auction, to be held on December 17, comes shortly after Dr Conrad Murray – Michael’s personal physician, who was with him in the house at the time of his death – was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter over the singer’s death on November 7. He will be sentenced to up to four years in prison at the end of this month.
The property itself is also up for sale, but will not be auctioned. The asking price has not been disclosed, although similar houses in the same area sell for upwards of US$18 million.
Meanwhile, the late “Thriller” hitmaker has topped Forbes’ annual list of the Top Earning Dead Celebrities for the second consecutive year after his estate brought in US$170 million between October 2010 and October 2011 from sales of his music and his stake in the Sony/ATV catalogue.
The estate of the “Beat It” singer – whose earnings dropped from US$275 million 12 months ago – is set to take half of the profits from the Cirque du Soleil theatrical production “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour”, which started earlier this month. – chinadaily.com.cn
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