Charlie Chaplin’s violin.
John Wayne’s Stetson.
Officer’s keys from one of the last men to leave the Titanic.
Items associated with the 1910-1913 British exploration of Antarctica.
A mechanism that will not only open your wine but pour you a glass.
What would you bid to own a remnant of history? What does it mean to possess a tangible connection with a person or event from long ago? Do we have a secret hope that some of their bravery or talent might rub off on us? Or is this just a way to feel closer, a substitute for actually knowing the person we admire? I have to admit, there’s a part of me that would enjoy owning, if even for a brief moment, a few of these things.
There is an art to knowing when to sell an object associated with a time, event or person. Your potential buyers should have a strong association, either intellectual or emotional, with its history. A few years from now, will anyone care about the Lusitania or Wellington or Charlie Chaplin? Or even recognize their names? And what would possess someone to sell one of these objects? Are there no more blood heirs? Would someone prefer to use that money for a new house or a trip or hospital bill?
You have to admire the people at Christie’s. They are pros when it comes to knowing how to market. Take a look at the website, the videos, the beautiful photographs and descriptions. The objects are presented as precious objects of art, on pedestals, and behind expensive glass cases. They are truly one-of-a-kind.
Have you ever played the game, “If you could take home any of these objects, what would you choose?” Do you ever ask yourself, “why that object?” It would be fun to share our selections in the comment section below. It will be a hard choice for me and may take awhile.
Here are a few of the other items from the sale to help you make your decision. Take a look here for pictures, descriptions and the rest of the things being offered:
An oak and cane Cunard deck chair from the Lusitania.
A life-preserver from the Lusitania.
Field Marshall Montgomery’s beret.
Errol Flynn’s cape.
Churchill’s imitation leopard skin muff, his 4 Edwardian silver salts, a cane and his Stetson.
.Queen Victoria’s nightgown, underwear and wedding cake.
A lockett and eyeglasses from the Duke of Wellington.
Gold mourning jewelry for Charles I and George Washington.
Bogart’s silver cigarette case.
