FRANCE: Bowie's guitar, Andy Warhol record covers at Rock n' Roll auction in Paris

Record ID: 864090

  • Title: FRANCE: Bowie's guitar, Andy Warhol record covers at Rock n' Roll auction in Paris
  • Date: 7th November 2013
  • Summary: BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF DAVID BOWIE WITH HIS GUITAR IN NEW YORK, IN 1984
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAESNZBDQZ286NPDBX73MEPH8XN
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Paris has caught Rock' n' Roll fever -- David Bowie's autographed guitar, a flame embellished 1950's vintage car, original Andy Warhol record covers, along with hundreds of other rare Rock' n' Roll memorabilia will be up for auction on Thursday (November 7) at the Artcurial auction house in Paris.
    Items date from the early 1950's to today, celebrating more than a half century of Rock' n' Roll.
    The sale includes over 350 objects: costumes and clothing, contemporary art, never before published photographs, posters, motorcycles, pinball machines, and, of course, the instrument emblematic of Rock --- guitars, worth up to 20,000 euros.
    "We have 'L' series Stratocasters. They are the most desired Stratocasters, dating from '63 through '65, so they're 50 years old and in perfect condition," said Rock expert Hugues Corniere.
    Other notable instruments include David Bowie's 1973 electric guitar which is expected to fetch between 35,000 to 40,000 euros.
    "The star item of the sale, David Bowie's guitar is a guitar from 1973, that in itself is already a pretty rare collector's item. It was crafted by a stringed instrument maker named Dan Armstrong, who made guitars in the United States and who emigrated for a while in London. What's more, this one is truly the guitar of David Bowie. He not only just autographed it in 1991 but he composed the majority of the songs on 'Station to Station' on it," Corniere said.
    The auction, entitled "It's Only Rock' n' Roll,' is meant to pay tribute to Rock culture that, according to President of the Artcurial auction house Francois Tajan, manifests itself in all spheres of culture -- museums, fashion, luxury, and literature.
    "This sale, above all, has the goal of paying homage to Rock, to celebrate Rock n' Roll, but also to show the multiplicity, the different directions, the influences, and the manifestations of Rock n' Roll," Tajan said.
    "There are cars, Harley Davidsons, clothing. Fashion was greatly influenced, notably by the Punk movement. In fact, that's what was showing the exhibition at the Metropolitan in New York some months ago. There are, of course, guitars, the emblematic instruments of Rock' n' Roll. There are photographs, objects that were used by stars," he added.
    With prices ranging from a 100 euros to several thousands, Rock n'Roll fans in Paris will have a chance to bring home a piece of the 50's.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register