LONDON -- Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christie鈥檚 auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musicians鈥� muse.
Boyd, who was previously married both to Beatle Harrison and to guitar legend Clapton, is selling a trove of items from her time at the epicenter of the 1960s and 70s counterculture, Christie's announced Monday.
For Boyd, Harrison wrote 鈥淪omething,鈥� one of the Fab Four鈥檚 most-covered tunes. Clapton鈥檚 passion for his friend鈥檚 wife inspired the scorching 鈥淟ayla.鈥� Later, when Boyd had left Harrison and married Clapton, he serenaded her with 鈥淲onderful Tonight.鈥�
The auction includes two love letters from Clapton, written while Boyd was married to Harrison, and the original cover artwork for Derek and The Dominos鈥� 1970 album 鈥淟ayla and Other Assorted Love Songs,鈥� a painting of a blonde model who reminded Clapton of Boyd. It鈥檚 estimated to sell for between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds (US$51,000 and US$76,000).
There are also letters and notes from Harrison, and his handwritten lyrics for the song 鈥淢ystical One,鈥� which have an estimated price of 30,000 to 50,000 pounds (US$38,000 to US$63,000).
Christie鈥檚 head of sale Adrian Hume-Sayer said Boyd鈥檚 life and career 鈥渃hart some of the key moments of the cultural revolution that changed the world in the 1960s,鈥� and the auction offered collectors and fans 鈥渁n unparalleled chance to see and own a piece of cultural history.鈥�
The more than 100 lots include photos taken by Boyd, who became an accomplished photographer, among them images of The Beatles鈥� 1968 stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi鈥檚 ashram in India.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to let go of these things which I have treasured and loved for so many years,鈥� said Boyd, 79. 鈥淭hese items represent special moments in my life but now I think it鈥檚 time to move on and share what I have with others.鈥�
The items are open for online bidding between March 8 and 22, and will be on display at Christie鈥檚 London headquarters from March 15 to 21.
Backstory:
This article was updated on March 14 to include images.
