The final remaining possessions of the late Syd Barrett have been auctioned off. The sale, which took place in the former Pink Floyd singer's home town of Cambridge, raised a respectable £119,890, which will go towards a fund for local art students.
Syd’s surviving paintings alone raised more than £55,000, while two hand-painted bicycles made an amazing £10,500. The auction featured items left by Barrett in his Cambridge house following his death at the age of 60 on 7 July this year. Barrett had studied at the Camberwell School Of Art before joining Pink Floyd and after quitting the band in 1968 for a short lived solo career, considered himself more of a painter than a musician.
The rest of the auction features a selection of painted furniture, art materials and other odds and sods… Two A5 notebooks were bought by American Theresa Northrop, who travelled to the auction from Ohio. "The notebooks are something different these are the original words of Syd, all hand written," she told The Independent. One of the books contained just one page of notes.
Here are some of the auction highlights.
- Barrett’s last painting, dated “Jan 06”, bought by local antique dealer George Peat - £9,500.
- A classical acoustic guitar - £4,000
- 23 art reference books - £4,000
- Syd’s scrapbook containing newspaper and magazine cuttings, including a picture of Victoria Beckham, information on various festivals, Cambridge United fixtures list, an article on the Tour de France, a piece on African Trade and a page from a magazine with illustrations of the De Beers Millennium Star diamond - £2,200
- Two notebooks containing notes on history - £1,700
- Syd’s cream leather armchair with a dark stain on the headrest - £1,100
- A psychedelic cushion - £1,600
- A hand-made bread bin full of wooden clothes pegs - £1,400
- A desk lamp painted blue by Barrett - £900
- Syd’s fake Christmas tree and decorations - £800
- Sharp micro system with “Roger’s old Hi Fi” written on the box - £750
- Syd’s Black And Decker Workmate - £460
Full catalogue and results is available at the auctioneer’s official web site...
How much would you pay for a desk lamp? Do you think these Syd fans are mad? Or is this material genuinely of historical value? Have your say here...
11:03 AM | 01/12/2006
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User Comments
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Speaking as the new owner of Syd's Christmas tree, I would have to say that of course the items have historical value.
Posted by Mr. Stevie Maclane at 6:43 AM | 06/12/2006 | Report Abuse
Woah. I think we need to see a photo of the tree in your living room.
Posted by Q4music.com at 12:13 PM | 07/12/2006 | Report Abuse
No problem, send me an e-mail so I have an address to send the picture of Syd's tree to.
Steve (crazydiamond) Maclane
Posted by Stevie Maclane at 12:38 PM | 11/12/2006 | Report Abuse
i will buy and pay any money for these items
Posted by jonathan keeble at 7:25 PM | 12/12/2006 | Report Abuse
How much would you pay for an ashtray of syds that came in the box with the decorations, sayd used it for candles.
Posted by Stevei Maclane at 9:06 AM | 13/12/2006 | Report Abuse
any item of syd's has historical value to me---and i would loved to have been able to purchase something-anyhting-i am very poor -and there was no way of doingit-i loved syd- He saved my life-- he inspired me;-made me realize you can have the life you knew blow up in your face -and still comeout the other side... i hope you all (who have been fortunate enough to have somethingof Syd's-) realize amd appreciate what those things he touched and used in his home everyday-mean to those of us who are heartbroken by his loss....
Posted by Sheryr Salzman at 5:58 AM | 28/01/2007 | Report Abuse
Syds sister Rosemary has given me full copy rights on "Syds last picture" and I will be publishing a limited edition later this year. Some of the revenue will go towards an artists trust in syds name. George
Posted by george peat at 2:14 AM | 24/03/2008 | Report Abuse
Syds sister Rosemary has given me full copy rights on "Syds last picture" and I will be publishing a limited edition later this year. Some of the revenue will go towards an artists trust in syds name. George
Posted by george peat at 2:14 AM | 24/03/2008 | Report Abuse
Syds sister Rosemary has given me full copy rights on "Syds last picture" and I will be publishing a limited edition later this year. Some of the revenue will go towards an artists trust in syds name. George
Posted by george peat at 2:14 AM | 24/03/2008 | Report Abuse
Syds sister Rosemary has given me full copy rights on "Syds last picture" and I will be publishing a limited edition later this year. Some of the revenue will go towards an artists trust in syds name. George
Posted by george peat at 2:14 AM | 24/03/2008 | Report Abuse
the man was a legend. British guitar music would never have developed the in the same way without him! i think its justified! after all how much do people pay for john lennon's old scribbles?
Posted by lee moase at 2:45 PM | 21/11/2008 | Report Abuse
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