Freddie Mercury's Ivor Novello award for outstanding contribution to British music, 1987

Freddie Mercury's Ivor Novello award for outstanding contribution to British music, 1987

A bronze statuette of Euterpe, muse of music and lyric poetry, designed by Hazel Underwood, on a stepped circular black wooden plinth, the base of the statuette engraved ‘IVOR NOVELLO AWARD / BASCA’, the plinth with brass plaque engraved 'FREDDIE MERCURY / OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH MUSIC / PRESENTED 1987'

Height 30cm., 11¾in.; Base: 7cm., 2¾in.

The 32nd Ivor Novello Awards were held on at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London on 15 April 1987. Freddie collected his award with fellow bandmates Roger Taylor and John Deacon; Freddie is photographed holding both his own and Brian May’s award, which he collected on May's behalf, wearing the turquoise linen suit in lot 259.

Named in honour of Ivor Novello (1893-1951), Britain’s most successful and distinguished theatrical composer at the time, the awards have been presented annually since 1956 for excellence in composition and songwriting and represent the ultimate in musical achievement and peer recognition in the industry. Voted for by members of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers, the Ivor Novello Award is the equivalent of the American Grammy.