We were ushered straight into Sotheby’s to view Freddie Mercury’s possessions, which was rather unexpected. A month later, visitors were queuing around the block, sometimes for hours, to see the same collection. At the time, though, we had little idea quite how much attention the exhibition would attract.
In August 2023, Sotheby’s opened Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, an extraordinary exhibition of personal belongings, artworks, stage costumes and memorabilia owned by the Queen frontman. Preserved by his close friend Mary Austin, the collection offered a glimpse into a life that extended well beyond the stage. I was particularly interested in the contrasts between Mercury’s flamboyant public image and the more personal details of his life at Garden Lodge.
Freddie Mercury’s Iconic Stage Costumes and Memorabilia
Some of the most striking exhibits were Mercury’s stage costumes. A cream jumpsuit with flared trousers and matching jacket, worn for Queen’s famous Christmas Eve 1975 performance at Hammersmith Odeon, brought back memories of the band’s early rise to fame. Nearby, Adidas boxing boots, famously worn at Live Aid in 1985, recalled another defining moment in rock history.
Sotheby’s staff also carefully arranged the crown on the monarch’s cloak from the 1986 Magic Tour, ready for display. Other clothing included a colourful jacket from Queen’s one-off festival appearance in Rio, 1985 and the pink suit Mercury wore at the 1990 Brit Awards, his last public appearance.
Inside Freddie Mercury’s Private Collection
Away from the stage, the collection revealed a different side of Mercury. Handmade Japanese kimonos, some worn around the house and others on stage, hung alongside his personal Yamaha grand piano, original sketches by Salvador Dalí, prints by Picasso and Chagall, and an assortment of Japanese ceramics and tableware.
His bedside red telephone was particularly recognisable from a well-known photograph of him eating cornflakes in bed. There were concert Polaroids, gifts from friends, personal T-shirts and other curious possessions, including a packet of Silk Cut cigarettes placed on top of a book about sex, hinting at the familiar idea of a ‘cigarette after sex’. The collection also included paintings and prints of Freddie’s beloved cats, including Delilah, who inspired the Queen song of the same name.
The collection also included some remarkable pieces of music memorabilia. The most collectable record on display was a limited edition Bohemian Rhapsody disc, one of just 200 copies (Mercury’s owned numbered 2). Other displays included promotional photographs, gold discs and memorabilia documenting Queen’s recording career.
Visitors at the Freddie Mercury Exhibition
I also photographed visitors studying the exhibits, pointing out familiar images and examining objects that had once belonged to someone they admired. A particularly striking photo shows a visitor looking at the famous image of Mercury wearing the crown and cloak. Elsewhere, people paused in front of his gold discs, vinyl records and personal artwork collection.
We also had tickets for Sotheby’s special Friday Night Late event, inspired by Mercury’s legendary 1986 birthday party. Guests were encouraged to wear flamboyant hats, as he had famously asked his own partygoers. Waiting in the queue, I found myself just as interested in the colourful characters gathering around me as in the collection itself.
These photos bring together the objects, people and the atmosphere of an unusual exhibition. From the extravagance of the stage costumes to the familiarity of a bedside telephone or dining table, they offer glimpses of a life lived in several different worlds. For a short time, visitors could see these things together before the auctions sold them off.
Project Details
Location: Sotheby’s, London
Date: August 2023
Camera: Ricoh GR
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