Several guitars by Mark Knopfler, of the British group Dire Straits, including that of their hit “Money for Nothing”, reached hundreds of thousands of euros on Wednesday at auction at Christie’s in London.
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Considered sold ! Guitars by Mark Knopfler, the leader of the British group Dire Straits, including that of their hit Money for Nothingreached hundreds of thousands of euros on Wednesday January 31, 2024 at auction at Christie’s in London.
The centerpiece of the sale, an original Gibson Les Paul Standard from 1959, went for 812,800 euros. According to Christie’s, this is an auction record for this model. It was notably used during tours in 2001 Sailing to Philadelphia Tour and that in 2008 Kill to Get Crimson Tour. Mark Knopfler, now 74, acquired it from Bobby Tench of the Jeff Beck Group. On the back of the guitar, some varnish is missing, where the instrument rubbed against its owner’s belt. It was estimated between 300,000 and 500,000 pounds, or between 400,000 and 570,000 euros.
Another piece of choice, the guitar of Money for Nothing And Brothers in Arms sold for 592,200 pounds, or 694,300 euros. It was also on this instrument, purchased by the artist in 1983 in New York, that Mark Knopfler played at the concert Live Aid in 1985. Christie’s had estimated it at between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds.
The red and white Schecter guitar “Walk of Life” went for 415,800 pounds, or 487,500 euros. This is a record for a Schecter during this sale which started two hours late due to the“extraordinary interest” that it aroused, according to Christie’s.
Another particularly remarkable piece from the Mark Knopfler sale, a 1958 Gibson ES-335, which is one of the fifty examples produced during the first year of the first semi-hollowbody electric guitar. It was sold for 176,400 pounds, or 206,800 euros.
However, this sale does not reach the price of the guitars of Kurt Cobain, ex-leader of the group Nirvana, sold between 4.7 and 6 million dollars at auctions in 2022 and 2020.
In total, the sale includes 121 lots, guitars and amps. At least a quarter of the profits will be donated to charities, including the British Red Cross.