28 August 2024

Amy Winehouse items including handwritten lyrics to be auctioned

28 August 2024

Sheets with song lyrics handwritten by Amy Winehouse are to be auctioned alongside a T-shirt worn by the singer.

The Brit-award-winner died in 2011 at the age of 27 and inspired a biopic, starring Marisa Abela, which was released earlier this year.

The collection of items is part of Sotheby’s inaugural popular culture auction, which will also feature personal items from singers including Marianne Faithfull.

The items, which have been offered for sale by Winehouse’s friend Tyler James, include an autographed manuscript where the jazz singer drafted the third single from her debut album Frank.

The rough lyrics for Cherry are accompanied with heart doodles along the left margin of the lined yellow notebook paper, written in blue ink pen.

There is also a personalised two-toned red and black retro-style bowling shirt, which Winehouse was pictured wearing after leaving a night out with friends in Camden.

A five-page manuscript will also go under the hammer featuring Winehouse’s writing in black ballpoint ink on white-lined notebook paper.

The first sheet is a list of tracks also decorated with heart doodles on the top right and left corners.

The second sheet is a loose, graphite illustration of a pin-up girl, a recurring theme of Winehouse’s, which depicts a woman with large eyes, lips and a feathered haircut, titled simply “Mishel”.

The final set of three sheets are draft lyrics from posthumously released song Like Smoke and unreleased song Knights Before.

James said: “Amy left a legacy, that, like her music will live on forever and nothing will ever be as treasured to me as my relationship withAmy.

“I have several artefacts that represent Amy’s creative genius and give an insight into her beautiful soul.

“Sharing these items with Amy’s fans is the start of a new journey for me and a new chapter of my life in wanting to help others and give something back.

“I know in my heart Amy would wholeheartedly support it.”

Faithfull’s collection includes an acoustic guitar, personal letters and photographs, handwritten lyrics, and couture fashion pieces.

The auction will showcase a number of other rare works from the rock, pop, metal and Britpop genres from across the decades.

Bidding opens online from Thursday, accompanied by a dedicated exhibition in the New Bond Street galleries from Monday September 9 to 12.

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