Bidding for this lot will end on Friday, November 15th. The auction will begin at 3:00 PM GMT 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 Thursday, November 14th, Saturday, November 16th or Sunday, November 17th.

A black-beaded necklace previously owned and worn by Michael Jackson. This necklace is Jackson's most well-known and recognisable jewellery piece. There are many photographs of him wearing the distinctive black-beaded necklace on and off stage. Some instances include: out in London with Lisa Marie Presley in July 1997; his exclusive interview with Barbara Walters on 7 September 1997, and on stage for the second leg of his HIStory tour.

This lot comes from the personal collection of Norwegian rapper and dancer Omer Bhatti, to whom Jackson personally gifted this necklace in the early 2000s. Initially, the necklace was gifted to Jackson by a German friend, and it is believed he received it in Germany on the HIStory tour. It has not been worn since Bhatti received it, and the wear on the necklace is from Jackson wearing it frequently.

Although Jackson was known for his heavily embellished outfits, he was not known for wearing much jewellery. His black necklace was a sentimental item and one of his treasured possessions. Jackson considered himself a spiritual person, so he would naturally gravitate to items containing stones due to their supposed special properties. Many reproductions and replicas of this necklace have come to market in recent years. It is rare for jewellery items associated with the King of Pop to come up for sale.

The necklace comprises black-painted glass beads and a square-shaped gold-coloured metal pendant featuring a synthetic garnet stone. The stone is very dark red, which looks black. Attached to the pendant is an additional oval tag on which Dyrberg/Kern, the jeweller's name, is engraved. There are some gold-coloured paint remnants on the smaller beads either side of the clasp. The metal components exhibit light tarnishing, and the black finish has worn away on several beads. The lot is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Bhatti.

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: £40,000 - 80,000 Ω

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