A pair of diamond-encrusted spectacles that belonged to Barry Humphries’s alter identity, Dame Edna Everage, are part of the late entertainer’s personal collection that will come up for auction.
With his satirical personas, such as the obnoxious cultural attaché Sir Les Patterson and the high camp of Dame Edna, Humphries, a stage and screen veteran, delighted decades.
The 89-year-old Australian celebrity passed away on April 2023.
On February 13, there will be a sale of over 250 pieces from his personal collection at Christie’s in London. Dame Edna’s diamond-encrusted Sydney Opera House glasses, which are expected to fetch up to £1,500, will go up for auction.
With “wisteria color” hair and cat-eye glasses, Dame Edna began as a dull Melbourne housewife who parodied Australian suburbia before becoming a more raucous and eccentric figure.
Charles Conder’s painting Sand Dunes, Ambleteuse, which has a top estimate of £300,000, is the most expensive piece in the sale.
A first edition copy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which is attributed to Wilde’s publisher and has a maximum estimated value of £150,000, is part of his collection.
European and symbolist artwork from the 19th century is up for auction; Jean Delville’s L’Oubli Des Passions is expected to fetch up to £180,000, while Fernand Khnopff’s Le Collier De Medailles is valued at a maximum of £100,000, according to the auction.
The public can view the entire pre-sale exhibition from February 7 to February 12.
Christie’s London assistant director of private and legendary collections Benedict Winter stated: “Barry Humphries is most known for his comic genius, but he was a true polymath and connoisseur behind his famous persona.
The acquisition of these intriguing and incredibly varied pieces of art was motivated by his love of collecting and his never-ending desire to learn more. This sophisticated and captivating collection offers fascinating glimpses into this highly visible performer’s personal life.
After relocating to London from Australia in 1959 and making appearances in West End productions including Maggie May and Oliver, Humphries established himself as a mainstay of the British comedy scene.
Alongside Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, and Spike Milligan, he was a prominent figure in the British comedy scene. He also had skills in film production and scriptwriting.
The gentlemanly Sandy Stone, the underground filmmaker Martin Agrippa from the 1960s, the shady trade union official Lance Boyle, and the quintessential Australian chap Barry McKenzie were all part of his array of personas.
Barry Humphries: The Personal Collection will go up for auction at Christie’s in London on February 13, 2025.