A collection of artwork allegedly created by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is back on the auction block after the initially scheduled sale was postponed.
When the Jackson-Strong Alliance filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 2, the August 3 sale by King Auctions was postponed. Since a federal judge dismissed the bankruptcy filing and ruled that the art collection return to the block, the auction house rescheduled the sale for October 5.
In 1989, Jackson and Australian artist Brett Livingstone Strong founded the Jackson-Strong Alliance. The artworks slated to hit the block are believed to have been made around that time.
The original August 3 auction was ordered by the superior court of California to account for a debt owed between the alliance and Vinson Investments. The artworks were the property of both the alliance and the investment company.
Ahead of the auction, however, the late icon’s estate questioned the authenticity of the works.
““The Estate of Michael Jackson does not accept that this artwork was created by Michael Jackson,” Jonathan Steinsapir, counsel for the estate, explained in a statement to Billboard. “We have made this clear to the auction house and others many times since. The Estate asked for evidence that these works were in fact created by Michael, and no sufficient evidence has ever been produced.”
Adding, “The attorney for the Estate of Michael Jackson has confirmed in writing to King’s Auctions’ counsel that the Estate’s position is their opinion only, and they have no factual basis upon which to dispute the authenticity of the artwork.”
A total of 76 signed artworks, 26 of which are double-sides, will be available for sale, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from autograph specialist Roger Epperson.
The first lot is for the sale of the entire collection with a reserve price of $1 million and an estimate between $12 million and $30 million. Should the reserve not be met, however, each piece will be sold separately at a reserve of $9,999. Individual works carry estimates between $100,000 to $1 million.
