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Peggy's Auction Report
By Peggy, 18 Sep 2003 |
See Also: Peggy's Auction
Photo Album
What a night! Dame Shirley stayed throughout
the auction and serenaded the big spenders several times. Nearly £250,000
raised. An amazing event and great fun.
Driving up to Christie's we passed the Swarovski shop near Harrods. In the
windows were two empty mannequins. We agreed that the company would be bidding
this evening, and gowns would be in the shop window tomorrow morning. We were
right. The final lot 50 - the diamond dress - went to Mr. Swarovski for £35,000.
We waited outside Christie's entrance to see her arrive at 7.20pm, in a new
silver S Class. She stopped to talk to the fans and hug the people she
recognised. Shirley looked fantastic and was in great form, accompanied by her
new boyfriend.
Inside, Christie's had put on a great show. The grand staircase was garlanded
with crystal curtains, and stardust (millions of tiny crystals) artistically
sprinkled over the carpets and furniture.
Upstairs a disco DJ played her songs, and a large plasma screen showed concert
videos. Champagne and cocktails were served at speed from a mirror-topped bar.
Delicious canapés were served with a smile by pretty waitresses. The atmosphere
was pure class. Lots of showbiz execs and fans. No Danny and no Beau. The only
celebrity we saw was Sir David Frost.
Daniel Darnell was not there because he didn't want to sell them. But he had
spent hours arranging their display in the viewing room. Anyone who went to the
viewing will know how beautifully staged they were.
Everyone was expecting Shirley to leave early, as previously stated by
Christie's staff. But she sensed a friendly crowd and later amazed us by
impromptu singing and larking around from the auctioneer's rostrum. She said she
is putting on weight (couldn't see it) and now "I have nothing to wear!"
After a presentation of flowers, Shirley sat in the front row and the packed
auction started. A bank of people taking phone bids stood at one side with their
mobiles. Three TV cameras were being operated, but not apparently by the BBC or
ITV. They missed a wonderful evening full of laughter.
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The Invite |
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The Bids |
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Lot 1 kicked off at £6,400.
Lot 2 the Sarah Percival Merry Widow dress fetched £3,500. Shirley confirmed
that it was so tight she had to sleep in it. She joked that anyone who buys the
dress can say they went to bed with her.
Lot 3, the Yves Saint Laurent see-through, £4,500.
Lot 4 the Douglas Darnell 1991 Royal Albert Hall gown, as confirmed by a fan.
The auctioneer said "The fans know more than you do." Shirley replied "Of course
they do!"
She quipped at the big TV screen that showed the catalogue photo every time a
gown came up for sale. "Why don't they show a gown when I'm singing in it? It
might increase the price!"
This went to Swarovski at £3,500.
The auctioneer explained that Van Gogh's Sunflowers had been sold in this room
on this same Chippendale rostrum - and started the modern art market. It's an
historic auction room, making more history tonight.
Lot 5 the dress that Shirley had met Her Majesty the Queen in.
"I bowed, curtsied and grovelled!" £7,000
Lot 6 £3,000
Lot 7 black tassel shimmy dress, by DD 1990s. "Is this one of your favourites
Dame Shirley?" --- "Yes!" Big cheers from the floor as it reached £10,000.
Lot 8 by Loris Azzaro £3,200
Lot 9 Spanish style
Auctioneer: "Dame Shirley said she does a fantastic flamenco in this."
DSB: "In bed!"
Sold to a dishy blonde for £2,200 who told us she will be showing it on BBC TV
tomorrow. Not sure of the time.
The auctioneer reminded us that every penny goes to charity, and there is no
buyer's premium.
Lot 10 DD black sexy 'Something else' described as one of the early ones.
"Sacred and early" quipped DSB. Made 40 years ago. £6,500
Lot 11 the Butterfly Dress, without the butterfly. DSB: "The butterfly flew
away." £3,500
Lot 12 orchid dress, black velvet with the 'chandelier' £4,500
"It grew out of my hip and I had to go to the doctors to get it removed. It
started as a tiny Swarovski diamond and just - grew. I ran out of medicine -
drugs - drugs - drugs." Shirley showed a tremendous sense of humour all evening,
making little quips from her front row seat. She often had the auctioneer and
bidders in stitches.
Lot
13 by DD. Stage cloak £2,800
Lot
14 Raspberry Ripple with cloak £3,000
Lot
15 the 1963 Kennedy Dress. She sang for JFK in this, and it's on the 25th
Anniversary Album cover. DSB turned and called to the bidders "Help me out!" as
it struggled to reach £5,000
Lot
16 Nieman Marcus plain dress, she hid in a cupboard at the JFK inauguration
party as she was shy. The brooch was missing. "Vice President Johnson stole the
brooch."
Lot
17 another fine Douglas Darnell creation £2,500
Lot
18 the wonderful Royal Albert Hall orange £7,500
Lot
19 Julien MacDonald recent silk dress £3,000
Lot
20 the Cardinal with coat £3,000
Lot
21 the Flame outfit £2,700
Lot
22 Gypsy (for TV) £800
Lot
23 £2,000
Lot
24 worn at the James Bond Tribute £3,200
Lot
25 hyacinth crystals red with cape £6,800
Lot
26 loud cheering. Auctioneer: "The flag of Finland isn't it?
This dress will always be famous. The Welsh flag kaftan. She sang with Bryn
Terfel..."
DSB: "The Welsh fellow..."
Against the rules Shirley bid a winning £7,000 for this. She is giving it to the
Welsh College of Music.
Auctioneer: "Do you have a paddle number?"
DSB: "007"
Lot 27 two gowns £2,200
Lot 28 embroidered jackets, possibly the oldest pieces in the sale £2,200
Lot
29 lots of interest for this £4,500
Lot
30 green £5,000
Lot
31 stage coats £2,800
Lot
32 the Something album cover, with holes.
Bidder: "Shirley you're killing us!" (Referring to the cash outflow). DSB "I'm
killing you softly..."
Bidder: "The sparkle in your dresses reflect the sparkle in you eyes and in your
smile." (Shirley was visibly flattered and moved) After a few more bids she sang
part of 'Something'. Then she told a story about when she was performing at the
Waldorf Astoria NY in the dress. "I was announcing my next song "I Capricorn"
when a voice said "I am a Capricorn" It was Ava Gardner." She went into the
audience to shake hands - as she walked over a man put his hand up one of the
holes! £6,000
Lot
33 Auctioneer: "This gown is as sophisticated as hell"
Shirley said that Douglas was too sad to be here tonight. A round of applause in
his absence. Shirley raised a toast. £3,200
Lot
34 flamboyant cloak. Auctioneer "You can wear this around the house. Imagine
your husband coming home and you go WHAP!" (Arm movement to open an imaginary
cloak like a flasher) £6,000
Lot
35 History Repeating leopard skin. DSB (about the Propellerheads backing
tracks) "That was not real music" £3,500
Lot
36 Royal Albert Hall, sang to Prince Phillip on his 80th birthday. £3,000
Lot 37 Gold £2,800
Lot
38 Sang at the premiere of Goldfinger £3,300
Lot
39 petal dress £3,200
Lot
40 GOLDFINGER! Got to £4,000, then Shirley sang 1st verse #...beckons you to
make this bid come true...#
Finally reached a whopping £18,000. Shirley continued #...beckons you to enter
his web of sin, but DO come in!"
She went to kiss the wealthy buyer "I would have his shoes under my bed."
Lot
41 £2,200
Lot
42 Catsuit £6,000
Lot
43 stage coat £1,900
Lot
44 birthday dress, worn at the Talk Of The Town nightclub "my first
diaphanous gown - 1963 - reinvented several times like myself."
£2,600
Lot
45 early 1950s £2,800
Lot
46 three dresses £4,000
Lot
47 white £4,500
Lot
48 white shimmy. Lot of interest. Sang #...kiss me honey honey kiss me...#
£5,000 surprisingly less than the similar black shimmy.
Lot
49 white stunning £4,500.
At this point the auctioneer said the estimate had been £30k, we were now over
£200k. Cheering.
Finally Lot
50 The Diamond Dress. The most famous DD from the 1950s. Everyone
was standing to see it at the side of the auction room. Auctioneer: "If we could
all sit down..." DSB "Me too?"
Shirley agree to sings Diamonds are Forever to boost the bidding. But "I don't
care if I keep you here all night ... it's got to go on until... (Laughing) even
if I have to sing a note at a time..."
Then she sang the first line of DAF. "No, I'm singing one line at a time between
bids." This sparked off the highlight of the evening. "Can I get up here?" She
got up on to the rostrum "I can't have you higher than me." she teased the
auctioneer. "Give everyone a drink..." The Christie's staff looked shocked at
the idea of serving a packed room, it was logistically impossible, but Shirley
wanted to reward everyone for their generosity and making it so much fun. "You
deserve a drink." A manager said that they had no more champagne left, which
might have been a porkie but he was clearly relieved when she accepted it, and
stopped calling for drinks on the house.
More bids, more lines sung, and on request sang This Is My Life. And how.
Perfectly with no music. What a loud voice, no need for a mike. Then Shirley
broke down in tears. Bouncing back she sang again to achieve £35,000.
Just short of £250k someone suggested she sold the dress she was wearing. "Do I
have to take it off now?" Then she started a hysterically funny take on The
Stripper, dah-de-dahing the tune as she pretended to strip. "Oh you can see my
tit tape! In my day we used glue, gum..." The auctioneer just gave up. Then
finally she sang The Party's Over extremely well. And joked "OK I'm not Shirley
Bassey, I'm an impersonator..."
Picking up the masquerade line from the song she said "All these gowns, now THAT
was a masquerade..."
Lots of thanks, hugs, and she finally exited stage right. Simply the most
astonishing Shirley experience I have ever had after decades of concert going.
We felt closer to her than ever, realising what a beautiful personality she has.
Playful, intelligent, social, sophisticated, quick witted, risqué, an antidote
for all that's wrong in the world. She is more beautiful than all the gowns put
together. They fetched a price, but she is priceless.
Thanks to Peggy for providing this detailed report and sharing it with other
fans.
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