LONDON -- Love letters to Pattie Boyd from both George Harrison and Eric Clapton are going up for sale at Christieâs auction house, alongside clothing, jewelry and other memorabilia from the renowned model and musiciansâ muse.
Boyd, who was previously married both to Beatle Harrison and to guitar legend Clapton, is selling a trove of items from her time at the epicenter of the 1960s and 70s counterculture, Christie's announced Monday.
For Boyd, Harrison wrote âSomething,â one of the Fab Fourâs most-covered tunes. Claptonâs passion for his friendâs wife inspired the scorching âLayla.â Later, when Boyd had left Harrison and married Clapton, he serenaded her with âWonderful Tonight.â
The auction includes two love letters from Clapton, written while Boyd was married to Harrison, and the original cover artwork for Derek and The Dominosâ 1970 album âLayla and Other Assorted Love Songs,â a painting of a blonde model who reminded Clapton of Boyd. Itâs estimated to sell for between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds (US$51,000 and US$76,000).
There are also letters and notes from Harrison, and his handwritten lyrics for the song âMystical One,â which have an estimated price of 30,000 to 50,000 pounds (US$38,000 to US$63,000).
Christieâs head of sale Adrian Hume-Sayer said Boydâs life and career âchart some of the key moments of the cultural revolution that changed the world in the 1960s,â and the auction offered collectors and fans âan unparalleled chance to see and own a piece of cultural history.â
The more than 100 lots include photos taken by Boyd, who became an accomplished photographer, among them images of The Beatlesâ 1968 stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogiâs ashram in India.
âIâm happy to let go of these things which I have treasured and loved for so many years,â said Boyd, 79. âThese items represent special moments in my life but now I think itâs time to move on and share what I have with others.â
The items are open for online bidding between March 8 and 22, and will be on display at Christieâs London headquarters from March 15 to 21.
Backstory:
This article was updated on March 14 to include images.