Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Christie's-Clapton-guitars

Full Text:

Eric Clapton's Guitars Sold At Christie's

NEW YORK CITY -- Christie's sale of a selection of 100 of Eric Clapton's

guitars on June 24 was a resounding success with all of the guitars selling

for a total of $5,072,350, more than four times pre-sale expectations. The

sale also set a world auction record price of $497,500 for a guitar. Conducted

by Christie's in aid of the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a non-profit

facility founded by Eric Clapton in 1998, the sale represented the largest

single-owner collection of guitars associated with one of the most famous

living rock artists ever to appear at auction. Mr Clapton is generously

donating all of his profits from the sale of the guitars, catalogues and

posters to the Crossroads Centre in Antigua.

Two hours prior to the auction, the scene at Christie's new headquarters at

Rockefeller Center resembled a rock concert as fans and music enthusiasts

lined up around the block. The salesroom was filled to capacity with more than

1,000 potential buyers. Christie's had 80 telephone lines operating in the

packed salesroom in order to accommodate the record number of people who

registered to bid by phone.

Eric Clapton, who was unable to attend the auction as he was rehearsing for

his June 30 concert in Madison Square Garden, commented after the sale: "I

can't believe it. I am totally overwhelmed. I had no idea the auction would do

so well. I want to say thank you to everyone who showed up and made this such

a memorable occasion. I also want to say thank you on behalf of all the

patients who will get free treatment as a result of this sale."

Richard Chapman, Christie's guitar specialist, commented after the sale: "The

combination of Eric Clapton, the most famous living guitarist, and the world's

most popular musical instrument, ensured that this sale was a landmark event

in auction history. We are absolutely delighted that Eric Clapton's generosity

has raised so much for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a cause so close to

his heart."

The highlight was the astounding price achieved for one of Clapton's favorite

guitars, `Brownie' (lot 105), a 1956 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster, which sold

for $497,500, setting a new world auction record for a guitar. Clapton played

his most famous love song, "Layla," on `Brownie'. As the guitar came around on

the revolving podium, the first chords of "Layla" were heard in the auction

room, and fans stood and bowed to the famed guitar. Duly inspired, buyers

opened the bidding at a staggering $200,000. A bidder in the room and on the

phone battled it out and the coveted `Brownie' finally went to the anonymous

phone bidder.

Michael J. Fox, the actor, bidding on the telephone, purchased two lots -- a

circa 1949 Gibson-125 (lot 32) for $36,800 and a circa 1930s National Duolian

(lot 94) for $42,500. Mr Fox commented afterwards, "Mr Clapton has meant a lot

to me, as do the blues in general. This, combined with my admiration for his

gesture towards this great cause, made this auction something I could not pass

up. These are two of the guitars I very much wanted."

Michael Malone of AEI Music, bidding on the telephone from Seattle, purchased

among others a 1954 Fender Stratocaster (lot 103) for $211,500, commenting,

"I'm damn happy to have gotten a very special guitar."

Other buyers included a collector from Minnesota who purchased the 1958 Gibson

Explorer Clapton used during the ARMS concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London

in 1983 (lot 92) for $135,500, and the Hard Rock Hotel in Los Angeles, which

purchased a 1990 National Reso-phonic Model M-1 (lot 56) for $48,300.