Introducing The 13th Note

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Trends come and go with the rhythm of the ages, but the 20th century marked a turning point: the rise of what we now comfortably call 'pop culture'. Whether termed 'popular culture' or 'mass culture', it represents the shared ideas, images, sounds and objects that define a moment in time,  some fleeting, others echoing across decades and generations. Few art forms capture this phenomenon better than music. Music is not just heard; it is collected, worn, displayed, idolised. From the instruments that give it voice, to the recordings that preserve it, the equipment that delivers it into our homes, and the merchandise that transforms artists into icons, music is one of the most tangible expressions of cultural memory.

Sworders has an excellent track record of selling pop culture items. Highlights include a Gibson Les Paul 'Black Beauty', signed and played by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin (£37,700), a signed copy of 'Grapefruit' by Yoko Ono and John Lennon (£2,470), and an autograph book collected by the vendor containing signatures from Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr among others (£2,600). As well as this, a gelatin print of Queen, taken just before their iconic Live Aid performance and signed by photographer David Bailey, realised £3,120. Each item is more than an object; it is a fragment of a larger story, a point of connection between collector and cultural moment.

^{A 2008 Gibson Custom Shop Jimmy Page 'Black Beauty' electric guitar (Sold for £37,700)}

 
It was none other than Pythagoras, in the 6th century BCE, who described the ratios between musical notes and provided the basis for the twelve-note scale, a concept that underpins all Western music. If you are searching for something more or something outside of the usual range, then that is where The 13th Note will satisfy the wants and needs of the collector. No matter what your interest, items will offer both aesthetic and documentary value: instruments that shaped sound, recordings that defined eras, and memorabilia that captures the presence of artists at pivotal moments.

We already have consigned a wonderful selection of Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacker and Gretsch guitars, together with Vox and Fender amplifiers, a Transcriptor Hydraulic turntable, signed vinyl records and an exceptional collection of Beatles photographs. Alongside these, are some very, very, very special music memorabilia (but you'll be hearing a lot more about that in the coming weeks).

^{The 13th Note | Thursday 4 June}

Taken collectively, the offering forms a carefully assembled survey of modern heritage. Each lot represents a note in a wider composition: the sound of cultural evolution, the hum of nostalgia, and the continuing dialogue between past and present. For seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts alike, The 13th Note offers an invitation, not just to acquire, but to participate in the world of modern collectables.

There is still time for further exceptional items to be added to take this sale 'to 11' (or should that be 13?). We are interested in high quality guitars, amplifiers, synthesisers, as well as music and film memorabilia, and anything else that captures the essence of pop culture.

_{All sold prices shown include fees.}

The 13th Note

Thursday 4 June | 1pm

tonysalani@sworder.co.uk

01279 817778

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