Esteemed auction house Phillips de Pury auctioned off 231 lots of music-related memorabilia in London on Saturday (Nov. 21). Among the strange and random artwork, fashion and photography was a rhinestone painting of Donna Summer by Mickalene Thomas, a Technicolor couture dress worn by Bjork on her 2009 tour, a self-portrait painted in blood by troubled musician Pete Doherty and, most importantly, a diamond-encrusted eye patch worn by legendary rapper Slick Rick. The multicolor camouflage eye patch was designed in 2005 by Slick Rick's wife, Mandy, and given to him for his 40th birthday. It is set with colorless, pink, yellow, blue and black pavé diamonds, and was estimated to sell for £12,000-16,000 in the British auction, or equivalent to $20,000-25,000.
Rick, who was recently featured on Raekwon's 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2,' has worn an eye patch since being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. The patch gave the rapper a signature flair, in addition to his resplendent gold tooth and diamond jewelry.
It is not yet known how much Slick Rick's eye patch sold for. We hope the gold tooth isn't next. Phillips de Pury's auction house was established in 1796, and boasts Marie Antoinette and Napoleon among its extremely wealthy former clientele.
