For Sale: Bird’s Horn. Really.
Our friend and loyal follower Caroline sent a note the other day that she had been at Christy’s, the auction house in New York, and came upon Charlie Parker’s alto saxophone. My goodness, what a treasure. She sent a couple of pictures and a follow-up note stating that it is available in a private sale, not for auction, with an asking price of $750,000 to $1,000,000. The backstory, she says, is that it was in a pawn shop when Bird died and his wife Chan went to retrieve it. There is a certificate of authenticity, which you can see at the end of the post. This is the same horn that was sold by the auction house Guernsey’s in 2005 for $286,000. I happened to be at that sale and saved the catalogue. The serial number is the same, as is the provenance.
It is also worth noting that, back in 1994, Christie’s sold Bird’s Grafton plastic alto — which he famously used for the Jazz at Massey Hall Concert in Toronto — to the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City for $140,000, where it remains on display. It would be nice if this horn also makes its way into the public eye. Maybe Jazz at Lincoln Center would like to have it in their lobby. There should be a statue of Bird there anyway. I’m sure each of us would love to own this piece of history, but few of us have a million bucks to spare, and if we did, we’re probably spend it on records instead.
Wow! I’m surprised the estimate is that high. Makes me wonder what one of Coltrane’s saxophones would be worth.
Truly amazing, considering you could have picked up at a pawn shop for just a few bucks back in the ’50s.
Coltrane’s saxophone, or at least one of them, was offered at the Guernsey’s auction in 2005.
Believe it didn’t sell, might have been pulled.
I wouldn’t want this, honestly. I would be too worried about ruining it somehow. I’m worthy.
i mean to write I’m NOT worthy. what a typo!
Hi Everyone: A couple of quick things – 1.) It’s Christie’s Auction House (not Christy’s); 2.) That second pic is not a “…certificate of authenticity…”, it’s just a photo of the catalogue entry/wall tag next to the instrument; 3.) gregorythefish – you’re *totally* worthy! 🙂 x c
Joe Harriott / Amancio D’Silva Quartet “Hum-Dono” sold for $2,252 despite the seller having zero feedback. Does look nice in the pictures though.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/-/163086040823?nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l10137
Also a UK release of Billie Holiday – Jazz At The Philharmonic for $538.12. I guess Billie never goes out of style!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/-/282997324335?nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l10137
It makes me wanna cry just seeing the horn sitting like that in such an odd way, on top of glass, leaned against a bunch of the keys.. who is in charge in this auction house, damn.