An onyx bracelet

An onyx bracelet

designed as a continuous series of curb-links, alternating with onyx similarly carved, length approximately 183mm, numbered.

‘Sometimes I could go to Cartier’s, the jewellers, and buy up the whole shop’ confessed Freddie Mercury when expressing his love about buying gifts. This love of giving to others making him a frequent customer at Cartier. He once asked if he could come to Cartier after hours as they would be closed by the time he got there and when they did, he said it made him feel like Zsa Zsa Gabor. By repute this bracelet was gift to Freddie Mercury from Elton John. However, Peter "Phoebe" Freestone reminisced that in 1981 Freddie had taken him to Cartier and "A salesman asked if he was looking for something in particular. Freddie replied ‘yes, one of your gold and onyx bracelets’. He was disappointed when they said there were none in stock. I asked why that bracelet in particular, and he said it was because he had had three before. Why three? Well when I was walking around I would accidentally hit my wrist on something and the onyx would shatter and it would fall off!". It may have been that the original was given by Elton John and Freddie had had to replace it. It is believed that a link may have had to have been removed in order to fit securely, hence why there is no evidence of a Cartier signature and the bracelet can only be attributed.

PROVENANCE

By repute a gift from Elton John and attributed to Cartier

This lot was a gift from Sir Elton John to Freddie Mercury. In accordance with Mary Austin’s wishes, 100% of the hammer price achieved for this lot will be donated to The Elton John Aids Foundation.