Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, October 23rd. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST (7:00AM PDT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, October 24th.

A custom-made puppet doll of Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee Bubbles, owned by the King of Pop himself. This lot comes from the personal collection of Norwegian rapper Omer Bhatti, who was personally gifted this puppet by Jackson at his Neverland Ranch.

By this time, Jackson no longer had Bubbles, and the puppet was displayed on a shelf inside Jackson's memorabilia room at Neverland. The Bubbles doll always stood out to Bhatti and was particularly significant, as his favourite animal was a chimpanzee. Jackson also called Bhatti "Little Monkey", later nicknamed "Monk".

This rubber puppet doll was specifically made for Jackson, and the design includes an outfit that Bubbles wore. "® 1995 Mask Illusions - Made in Mexico" is imprinted on the doll's lower back. The puppet displays some minor wear and cracking to the paint finish, and there are two splits in the rubber, meaning the puppet is fragile in places. The lot comes presented on a custom display stand and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Bhatti. Dimensions (displayed): 17 cm x 20 cm x 41 cm (6.75" x 7.75" x 16")

Additional provenance:

This lot comes from the personal collection of Norwegian rapper and dancer Omer Bhatti, who established himself through touring and numerous television appearances. In 1996, Bhatti met his idol Michael Jackson in Tunisia. After being impressed by Bhatti's dance moves, Jackson became his mentor, spending time with him while travelling and at Neverland. This led to a lasting connection between the Bhatti and Jackson families, which remained strong until Jackson's death in 2009.

Estimate: £2,500 - 5,000 Ω

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View all lots from Omer Bhatti Collection in DAY 1