mindscreens art uk installation sting fictional props

Lady Winifred BinghamEstate Auction

£ 250-300

“Mirror-image”, a Morris & Co. woven portrait case, designed by J. HenryDearle. This double-sided, black leather carrying case incorporates a

symmetrical beige decorative woven border around two rectangular framesfacing each other. The reverse side of this case bears an embossed

inscription: “ To Michael Apted - No more Blue Turtle nightmares - Sting”16.4cm. x 9.2cm.

LITERATURE:Evening Chronicle, Sting Brings on the Night, Newcastle, U.K. July 07, 1986.

PROVENANCE: This gift was given to director Michael Apted, by Sting, during the filming of

the music documentary Bring on the Night - a behind the scenes account of Sting rehearsing with his band in a palatial French mansion.


£ 300-350“Rave” designer Cat-Eye black sunglasses, forming part of the Celebrity range, these sunglasses feature smooth oval shaped black glass enveloped

in authentic tortoise-shell frames, with 24 carat gold diamond tear-drop motifs adorning each side. A truly classic design for those with a traditional

sensibility. Inside right temple piece, engraved with: “Quadrophenia Rocks”

LITERATURE:

The Mirror, Quadrophenia Mania, Friday, April 23, 1980.

PROVENANCE:

These sunglasses were worn by Phil Daniels during the filming of Quadrophenia inBrighton Beach. They were sold to a Saudi Arabian collector, who invested in thisfilm. Lady Bingham’s secretary, disguised as a wealthy art patron, purchased the

glasses from Christie’s auction in London, 1981.


£ 500-700A Guild of Handicraft gold brooch, designed by C.R. Ashbee, oval, with a

black cabochon garnet set in the centre, surrounded by a design of minutecrosses with diamond chips in their centres.

7.8cm high; 5.5cm. wide

LITERATURE:Alan Crawford, C. R. Ashbee, 1985, p. 361, pl. X1X, comparable example illustrated.

PROVENANCE:

C. R. Ashbee designed an entire set of black jewellery to complement the mourningsuit that sultry Kathleen Turner wore in the seduction scene in the movie Julia and Julia.Sting admired the design so much, that he purchased the complete set as a gift for his wifeTrudi to wear to the premiere. After the screening, while the fans pressed in on the couple,

the set was stolen and sold on the black market to an anonymous private collector.


£ 3,400-3,600A William Hutton & Sons silver candlestick holder, cylindrical, on a round

pedestal, decorated with a stylised frieze of sculls, stamped, maker’smarks, 352424, with London hallmarks for 1903.

7.2cm. diam.315 grams

EXHIBITED: London, Victoria and Albert Museum, loan exhibit, 1989.

PROVENANCE:

This candlestick was used as a prop by Michael Seymour, in his production design for The Bride. Sting played Baron Frankenstein in this movie, a hero who brought Jennifer

Beal’s character back to life. At the “Goth” post-production party organized by Sting, this candlestick was used to hold a twisted candle that Sting lit

for a midnight ritual.


£ 600-700Gold-trimmed black-leather key case, custom made in Newcastle by

Allan and Sons , inscribed on the inside with the line: “Welcome back Sting - Mike Figgis”

LITERATURE: Evening Chronicle, Sting has the Keys to the Club, Newcastle, UK, January,

1989.

PROVENANCE:This key holder contains the key used by Sting’s character, (a club owner) in

the film Stormy Monday. The key can be seen briefly in the first steamy scene thatMelanie Griffith appears in.


£ 1000-1200A “Liberty” pearl necklace, designed by Archibald Knox, Class “A” pearlsare double strung on a finely braided silk string, graduating from small sizes

at both ends, to larger sizes at the centre.

LITERATURE:Cf. Adrian J. Tilbrook, The Designs of Archibald Knox, 1976, p. 150, fig. 177, comparable

example illustrated

PROVENANCE: This necklace was worn by Trudi Styler, Sting’s wife, during a seduction scene in

the movie Grave Indiscretion. Sting became jealous, watching his wife seduce another man on film, and sold the necklace to a Newcastle jewellery merchant in 2001.

Lady Bingham’s secretary heard about the sale through word of mouth, and purchased it before it was listed for sale on the open market

Lady Winifred Bingham Estate Auction

£ 500-600A Hukin & Heath electroplated condiment set, designed by Dr. Christopher Dresser, the

moulded “boat” stand has three round wells to set the matching containers in. Originalspoon included, stamped H&H and DESIGNED BY DR. DRESSER, 2034 with registration

lozenge for 18796.7cm. High

LITERATURE: Cf. Christopher Dresser, ein Victorianischer Designer, 1834-1904, Kunstgewerbemuseum der Stadt Koln,

February - April 1981, Abb.70, K.7, similar example illustrated

PROVENANCE:This condiment set was used as a prop by the character Sally Salt in the Adventures of Baron Munchausen.The containers were used as an amusing centrepiece for a spontaneous celebration that included the whole

cast. (Sting, Sarah Polley, John Neville, Robin Williams, and director Terry Gilliam) Sting accidentally soldit to a “Dresser” collector when he and his family moved to New York.


£ 200-300“Strokes for Blokes” white hand-poured soap, designed exclusively for theCelebrity Resort, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Originally embossed in gold leaf,

with the words Celebrity Soap across the top, this brand is only sold to elite, high end hotels across Britain.

PROVENANCE:Originally packaged in a pleat-wrapped, hand painted, green silk box, and placed in the

bathroom of the luxurious suite in the resort that Sting occupied during the shooting of thefilm Black Monday. When Sting left the resort, this soap was kept by an employee

from house-keeping, who eventually sold it for a substantial profit in 1998 (to Lady Bingham), who was delighted to add it to her growing collection of Sting mementos.


£ 200-300

“Dream on,” full deck of antique cards, printed on linen with Master Edwin Derwent’s

design in tri-coloured lithography. (Enclosed in it’s original carrying case, 1890.)

PROVENANCE:

These cards were kept in Sting’s trailer during breaks in the shooting of the film Plenty. Director David Hare told Sting he could have the cards if Sting could play his part in

the movie with a poker face. Although Sting tried unsuccessfully to accomplish this, he lost the cards in a real poker game he played later with his agent. Lady Bingham

was notified immediately and met the agent outside the fenced off area while filming was taking place.


£ 340-440Disneyland Mickey Mouse, first edition, hand-stitched Mickey Mouse toy, with the

designer’s signature on the label, purchased from the Big Kids workshop in Disneyland, USA.

PROVENANCE:

This toy can be seen in the movie Resident Alien, staring John Hurt, who plays Quentin Crisp in a campydocumentary. Crisp, who lived in New York as a British ex patriot, adored all Walt Disney characters. This

toy was purchased by Sting during an all expenses paid trip to Disneyland in the USA, as research for his partin this Hollywood movie.


£ 420-460Silk-covered pill box, in an unusual heart-shaped form, gold-plated interior, engraved

along inner rim with the words, “Spice up your life”

PROVENANCE:

Director David Lynch used this heart-shaped box as a container for the

mind-expanding spice in his film Dune. This prop was filmed as part of a mystical religious procession of virgins, lead by Sting’s character in the opening scene. The sound

track accompanying this procession contained a solemn hymn sung by an intoxicated choir.Unfortunately, this scene was not included in the final cut. An employee who worked withthe crew on Dune kept the prop and sold it during an Antiques Road Show that was held in

Newcastle. Lady Bingham saw this episode of the show, and offered the employee anundisclosed sum of cash so she could add this piece to her Sting collection.


£ 70-80Authentic “Balloon Man” sculpture, originally in the unique, patented form of a

unicorn, tied with custom made twine in five strands. This hand-made balloon was pouredin the Balloon Man factory outside Newcastle. The dye used in this rubber is ordered froma renowned Malaysian dye-master, Xu-quan, whose ancient formula blends the ingredientsso that the rubber remains opaque and resistant to punctures when the balloon expands.

PROVENANCE: Originally purchased as a prop for a confrontational pub scene in the film-noir movie Stormy Monday,

directed by Mike Figgis. In this film, Sting plays a menacing American developer. Tommy Lee Jones, another actor in the cast, disfigured the balloon by twisting it, and presented it to Sting as a joke afterthe bar scene was completed. Sting saved it for sentimental reasons. His wife, Trudi, later sent it to Anderson

and Garland auction house in Newcastle while cleaning out the attic, without knowing Sting’s reason forkeeping the balloon.


£ 180-200

Petrified dinosaur faeces, certified by a Northumbria University geology specialist as belonging to the Pre-Cumbrian phase of dinosaur history in the Newcastle region. This

perfect specimen was discovered by a tipsy free-lance miner who was digging in a vein of coal close to Marsden Rock.

PROVENANCE:

This rock was filmed as part of a violent scene in the movie called Grotesque, where Sir Hugo (Alan Bates)

vents his resentment towards his butler, Fledge (Sting). Sir Hugo, a palaeontologist who is angry at his wife

Lady Harriot (Trudi Styler), uses the rock as a weapon, but misses his target. It was picked up later by a

janitor who maintains movie sets. He took it to an auction house to be evaluated. Knowing about Lady Bingham’s famous Sting collection, the astute auctioneer notified her immediately and she purchased

this rare piece, sight unseen.

mindscreens art uk installation sting fictional props

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