A pair of John Lennon’s glasses and a guitar played, smashed and signed by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain are to go under the hammer at a music memorabilia auction later this month.
More than 1,500 instruments and artefacts owned and used by some of the world’s most famous artists will form part of the Icons & Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll auction by Julien’s Auctions.
It will include items from other late musicians including Amy Winehouse, Tupac Shakur, Prince, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.
Lennon’s glasses, which became symbolic of the Beatles frontman’s style and persona, and which he often referred to as his “Granny” glasses, are expected to fetch up to $80,000 (£70,000).
A 1973 Fender Mustang, owned by Cobain and which he played during two US performances in 1989, will also be on sale.
During the second show at the Sonic Temple in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, on 9 July, Cobain famously smashed the guitar to pieces during the finale performance of their hit song Blew.
“This rare and sensational artefact is emblematic of the grunge icon’s early years,” Julien’s Auctions said.
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“(It) makes this one of the quintessential and important Kurt Cobain guitars in rock history.”
It is estimated to fetch between $200,000 and $400,000 (£170,000 and £350,000).
Winehouse’s beehive hair topper, worn during her performance of You Know I’m No Good and Rehab at the 2008 Grammy Awards ceremony where she won five awards, is priced at up to $20,000 (£17,000).
Other items to be auctioned include a framed large-format black and white photo print with rap legend Shakur’s hand print, Prince’s 1992 Kurt Nelson Cloud Model electric guitar from his personal collection, and a blue and white Hawaiian floral shirt with long sleeves, purchased and worn by Presley during the filming of his 1966 movie, Paradise.
The auction will take place from 11 to 13 November at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
