Christie's Johnny Marr Guitar Auction Triples Estimate, Reaching $4.7 Million

Christie's auction Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection concluded with a total of £3,649,280, more than tripling its estimate. The 111-lot sale drew registrants from 34 countries, 81% of whom were new to Christie's, and lasted over five hours. A video featuring Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher riffing on their favorite guitars opened the proceedings. Bidding was fierce from the start: lot 1 sold for more than seven times its estimate, followed by Marr's 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, the guitar most associated with his Smiths-era sound. The auction was described as a tribute to the most influential guitarist of his generation.