Guernsey's is an auction house founded by Arlan Ettinger and Barbara Mintz and based in New York City.
 | |
| Founded | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Arlan Ettinger, Barbara Mintz |
| Headquarters | New York City |
| Website | www |
History
editNotable auctions
editOver the decades, Guernsey's has held a series of auctions involving items closely associated with significant cultural figures and moments. In 2011 the company auctioned Elvis Presley's first guitar and Michael Jackson's moonwalking self-portrait.[6][7] In 2017, it auctioned Jerry Garcia's guitar called "Wolf" for the second time, having auctioned it to the seller in an earlier auction in 2002.[8]
The company has also auctioned Keith Haring's refrigerator in 2021[9], and personal artifacts from various influential figures including Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Patti Astor, and Bob Dylan in 2024.[10] The 2024 auction also featured original fixtures from the Chelsea Hotel, including its iconic neon sign.[11]
In 2024, Guernsey's scheduled an auction of approximately 70 personal effects of Nelson Mandela, including his identity document, hearing aids, and trademark Madiba shirts. The auction was co-organized with Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, who stated that proceeds would fund a memorial garden in Qunu. However, the sale became the subject of a high-profile legal and ethical dispute, as South African heritage authorities and segments of the public objected to the export and sale of items they considered national patrimony. Although a South African court ruled in favor of allowing the sale, ongoing appeals and public controversy led Guernsey’s to suspend the auction.[12][13][14][15]
References
edit- ↑ "Guernsey's - About". www.guernseys.com.
- ↑ "Inside Guernsey's vintage guitar auction". Fortune. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ↑ Hutchinson, Bill (Jan 11, 1999). "AUCTION HAS A BIG PITCH SCORE ONE FOR GUERNSEY'S". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ↑ "The Twenty Million Dollar Guitar Auction That Wasn't: Guernsey's Aims High With 'Artistry of the Guitar,' Comes Up Very Short". Observer. April 7, 2014. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ↑ "See Inside the Home of the World's Premier Treasure Hunter". Time. November 10, 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ↑ "Guernsey's Auction House presents unprecedented Rock & Roll auction of remarkable items". artdaily.com.
- ↑ "Elvis' First Guitar to Go Under the Hammer at UES Auction". DNAinfo New York. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ Messikian, Ed (June 7, 2017). "Guernsey's Auction of Jerry Garcia's Legendary Guitar, 'Wolf'". Fine Art Frameworks. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ↑ Barron, James (2021-05-11). "Keith Haring's Fabulous Friends Left Their Mark on His Fridge Door". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ↑ "Guernsey's New York-Centric Auction Celebrates 60 Years of Downtown". Artlyst. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ Barron, James (2024-09-06). "You Can Buy a Piece of the Famous Hotel Chelsea Sign (Published 2024)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ Aradi, Gloria (2024-01-19). "Nelson Mandela auction: South Africa seeks to block sale in row over heritage". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ "An auction of Nelson Mandela's possessions is suspended as South Africa fights to keep them". AP News. 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ "Nelson Mandela auction suspended after outcry from South Africa heritage agency". 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ "Mandela's Legacy for Sale: Daughters Protest Auction of His Personal Effects". www.satorinews.com. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
External links
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