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Osbournes sell family treasures
• Sharon auctions possessions to raise funds for cancer charity
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By
The Minx , Entertainment
Tuesday,
6 November, 2007
Sharon Osbourne, X factor judge and wife and manager of eccentric rock star Ozzy, is saying goodbye to more than 600 of their treasured possessions. Jewellery, memorabilia, costumes, paintings, furniture and decorative works of art are all going under the hammer in the two-day sale.
Highlights include the quad bike which left Ozzy seriously injured in a 2003 accident, and a pair of the Black Sabbath singer's wire-rim sunglasses (£385).
The Osbournes have cleared out their Gothic-style mansion in Beverly Hills, their Malibu home and their Buckinghamshire mansion for the sale. A portion of the proceeds, expected to top £1 million, will go to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation. (Sharon recovered from colon cancer in 2005.)
A seated gilded Buddha, estimated to fetch £4,800 and seen in the Osbournes' backyard during their MTV show, is one of 400 lots of furnishings, fine and decorative arts on sale. Items include a walnut parquetry inlaid games table (£1,900), and a pair of imposing garden architectural spires (£960). The couple's distressed painted Louis XVI-style bed (£1,250) from their master bedroom in Malibu is included in the sale.
Among the 200 lots of memorabilia is the beaded wire model of the Eiffel Tower featured in the MTV show (£96) and the cast bronze Devil's head plaque seen on their front door (£192). Other lots from the reality series include Ozzy's preferred cup and saucer (£48), Jack Osbourne's black leather bed with crucifix motif in rivets (£962), and a cast iron crucifix that adorned Ozzy's den (£577). Ozzy's wire-rim sunglasses are priced at £385. Dresses belonging to Kelly and Sharon are also being sold.
Sharon said: "It has taken our lifetime to collect all of these items. Both Ozzy and I have very special memories of each and every item as it came into our home and became part of our lives. It is like giving up a part of us and we hope each and every item finds a very special home."
Ozzy said: "I don't know why we are selling everything as I want it all. Sharon tells me that we have to, otherwise our house will f****** explode. As long as she does not ask me for a pair of my boxers for the auction I will support it, especially since it is helping raise funds for her charity."
Darren Julien, president of Julien's Auctions, which is organising the sale, said: "The Osbournes individually and as a family have greatly impacted pop culture globally. This is a unique first time opportunity for fans and collectors to obtain a piece of their historic careers and/or personal lives."
The two-day auction takes place on November 30 and December 1 at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in Beverly Hills.
The Naked Reader 2007
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