Auction of Pattie Boyd’s trove of treasures surpasses expectations as it nets $3.6 million
Auction of Pattie Boyd’s trove of treasures surpasses expectations as it nets $3.6 million
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a handwritten note by George Harrison, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The note is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to a dress from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dress is estimated to sell £1,000-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd next to a set of photographs from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a set of pictures she took during the Beatles travel in India from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The photographs are estimated to sell within a range of £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a fairy pendant, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The pendanr is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a Rolex watch, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The watch is estimated to sell £2,500-4,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
George Harrison, of the Beatles singing group, splashes in the surf with his bride, former model Pattie Boyd, February 12, 1966. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
British rock star Eric Clapton and his bride, Pattie Boyd Harrison, leave a Tucson church after their marriage on Tuesday, March 27, 1979. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to the original artwork by E. Frandsen De Schomberg, used for the cover of Derek and the Dominoes album ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The artwork is estimated to sell £40,000-60,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a handwritten note by George Harrison, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The note is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a handwritten note by George Harrison, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The note is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to a dress from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dress is estimated to sell £1,000-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to a dress from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dress is estimated to sell £1,000-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd next to a set of photographs from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd next to a set of photographs from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a set of pictures she took during the Beatles travel in India from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The photographs are estimated to sell within a range of £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a set of pictures she took during the Beatles travel in India from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The photographs are estimated to sell within a range of £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff poses next to dresses from The Pattie Boyd Collection, at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The dresses is estimated to sell within a range of £800-1,500. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a fairy pendant, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The pendanr is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a fairy pendant, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The pendanr is estimated to sell £2,000-3,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a Rolex watch, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The watch is estimated to sell £2,500-4,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A member of staff holds a Rolex watch, as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The watch is estimated to sell £2,500-4,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
George Harrison, of the Beatles singing group, splashes in the surf with his bride, former model Pattie Boyd, February 12, 1966. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
George Harrison, of the Beatles singing group, splashes in the surf with his bride, former model Pattie Boyd, February 12, 1966. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
British rock star Eric Clapton and his bride, Pattie Boyd Harrison, leave a Tucson church after their marriage on Tuesday, March 27, 1979. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
British rock star Eric Clapton and his bride, Pattie Boyd Harrison, leave a Tucson church after their marriage on Tuesday, March 27, 1979. Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie’s auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians’ muse. (AP Photo, File)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds an original designed doodle by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The doodle is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Pattie Boyd holds a Christmas Card written by George Harrison as part of The Pattie Boyd Collection at Christie’s, in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. The card is estimated to sell £3,000-5,000. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
LONDON (AP) — The online auction of a trove of letters, photos and other items that Pattie Boyd, who was at the heart of the Swinging 60s, concluded Friday — and it’s safe to say that it really surpassed all expectations.
Christie’s, the world-renowned auction house, said its online sale of The Pattie Boyd Collection sold for around 2.82 million pounds ($3.6 million), or more than seven times the pre-sale high estimate of around 380,000 pounds.
The collection, which went on public display at Christie’s London headquarters last Friday, provided a glimpse into the heart of the 1960s and 70s counterculture.
The 111 lots up for sale included affectionate letters from both her iconic rock icon husbands George Harrison and Eric Clapton, alongside clothing, jewelry, drawings and photographs — some of Boyd, and some by her.
“I am completely blown away by the enthusiasm of international bidders for these special treasures that I have always loved,” Boyd said. “I am so happy that new hearts will now enjoy them, as they enter into their next ‘chapters.’ I am lucky that my life today continues to bring me joy and different adventures — I would encourage people to follow their passions and live their lives with gusto!”
Boyd, 79, is famous as a musicians’ muse, inspiration for The Beatles’ song “Something,” composed for her by Harrison, as well as for Clapton’s scorching “Layla” and sweet “Wonderful Tonight.”
The most astonishing individual sale was the original artwork chosen by Clapton for the cover of the Derek and The Dominos 1970 album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,” which sold for just under 2 million pounds ($2.5 million), 33 times the pre-sale high estimate.
Adrian Hume-Sayer, a director at Christie’s London, said the “outstanding results of this landmark auction are a real testament to Pattie Boyd, model, photographer, muse and icon.”