A Pattie Boyd auction consisted of the model’s memorabilia, including love letters from former beaus Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
Auction company Christie’s introduced a Pattie Boyd auction titled The Pattie Boyd Collection, which will go on from March 8 to March 22. The auction event will feature a few artworks and photographs from Boyd’s personal and professional life. Additionally, it will include letters from Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
The renowned model, muse, and photographer was popular during the cultural revolution of the 1960s and had a very successful career, especially in modeling.
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Letters revealed unexpected love affair
The Beatles’ Harrison and Boyd were married once and the model became the inspiration of the group’s love song, “Something.” A report from BBC revealed they met when she became part of the cast of the 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night. She and Harrison were both shy and it was part of the reason they got together.
Clapton, a friend of The Beatles’ guitarist, quietly and passionately pursued Boyd through letters and inspired his song “Layla.” In 1974, she left Harrison for him and said things between them “got out of hand.”
Boyd married Clapton in 1979 and the two stayed together until 1988 as per People. The report stated the two remained warm with each other.
Christie’s Pattie Boyd auction contained letters from the two dedicated to her, giving the public a little insight into her past lovelife.
“Don’t forget I love you”
Among the items included in the Pattie Boyd auction is a four-page letter from Harrison. It is in black ink on two sheets of The Plaza Hotel stationery with the letter’s original envelope. The guitarist narrated a couple of life events, like editing the Concert for Bangladesh for television, issues with its cover artwork, and a visit from his sister. He requested his then-wife to call him at room 601 as well to “say hello to Hubby.”
His letter to the actress/model is one of the high-priced estimates in the lot with its value amounting between £10,000 to £15,000, or $12,668 to $19,000.
The auction company put up one of Harrison’s handwritten “Mystical One” lyrics and is one of the most cherished items in the Pattie Boyd auction. Its estimated value is between £30,000 to £50,000 or between $38,000 to $63,336.
He had short yet heartfelt notes to Boyd as well, with one of the auctioned letters reading “Pattie, don’t forget I love you | George.”
An inquisition of love
Clapton, who was friends with Harrison, expressed his feelings to Boyd in a collection of letters. One of them even asked the model/actress if she still loved her husband or if she had “another lover.”
“If there is still a feeling in your heart for me, you must let me know,” says the letter.
Another correspondence from Clapton included a letter asking for signs that she felt the same way. He coaxed her to “take” him if she wanted him, but if not, she should “break the spell that binds” him. This bold move stirred up feelings, prompting Boyd to write back to him and tell him what she felt.
Both letters have estimated values of between £10,000 to £15,000, or $12,668 to $19,000.
Boyd was “in the middle”
A report from Fox News revealed that despite the love triangle, Clapton and Harrison remained close friends. The latter serenaded the former’s wedding with Boyd together with the other Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Boyd’s book, Pattie Boyd: My Life in Pictures, disclosed that she made peace with Harrison before his death and maintained a friendship with Clapton. “Those two were so tight,” as said in her book. “I was just the one in the middle.”
The Pattie Boyd auction will include photographs, mementos, watches, jewelry, and more.
Banner photo from Christie’s website.
