No. 1 of the five-volume catalog set for the auction of Michael Jackson's Neverland estate is entitled Garden Statuary & Outdoor Furniture. While Neverland is nevermore, back in its heyday, the 2,700-acre compound boasted an amusement park, zoo, gardens, statuary, furnishings and outdoor art. The auction was a chance to own a Neverland patio chair or statue.
Apparently, the singer had a "change of heart" about parting with his vast and eclectic collection. Jackson, his reps and Julien's Auctions halted the sale and came to an amicable agreement to return the artifacts to Jackson after the exhibit.
Q: When did you obtain the items from Neverland Ranch?
Photo Copyright Lisa Hallett Taylor
A: We began clearing the property from Neverland on August 8, 2008. It took us three months, 30 men and 10 semi trailers. In addition, Michael Jackson gave us many other items to add to the auction after we cleared Neverland.
Q: Can you describe what the outdoor setting looked like when you arrived?
A: The garden statuary filled the yards and surrounded the buildings of Neverland. This was especially the case around the main house. When you drove through the massive gates of Neverland, the yard leading up to the main house was filled with statues of children. The grounds were not in that great of condition because Michael abandoned the property in 2005, so very little upkeep was done. It was a mere shell of its former glory.Q: Did Julien's Auctions need to restore any of the outdoor items?
A: No, we did not, as we felt it was important to sell them in the condition they were in.Q: Are the garden sculptures one-of-a-kind pieces?
A: There are many replica outdoor statues in Michael's collection; very few are one-of-a-kind. Most of them do not have signatures or stamps. We have a fine art specialist who works with Sotheby's who cataloged all the fine and decorative art property.Q: Which piece of garden statuary is the most valuable or significant from
an art history perspective?A:The bound Indian by Glenna Goodacre is a one-of-a-kind statue and is the most valuable piece in Michael's collection.
Q: How would you describe the collection and its collector?
What does it reveal about him?A: Michael was a collector of everything. If something was over the top or larger than life, he wanted it. He is the most eccentric and eclectic collector we have ever encountered. I think that a person's collecting habits say a lot about them. In Michael's case, you can tell he is a creative genius by what he collects.
