INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A majority of items from late Colts owner Jim Irsay’s collection are set to be auctioned off at a Christie’s auction house in New York, his family announced in a statement Thursday.
The auction will take place sometime in March, a portion of the proceeds being donated to different causes Christie’s says Jim Irsay championed throughout his life.
The Irsays say the decision to sell Jim Irsay’s “extraordinary collection of music, American history, and pop culture artifacts and memorabilia” was “not made lightly, but with deep reflection and love for the legacy he built.”
“Our dad was a passionate collector, driven not by possession, but by a profound appreciation for the beauty, history, and cultural resonance of the items he curated,” the family wrote. “From iconic instruments to handwritten lyrics by legends to rare historical artifacts and documents, each piece in the collection tells a story – and he was always so excited to share those stories with the world.”
“He transformed the collection into a traveling museum and hosted free exhibitions across the U.S. He also regularly loaned items, always with the hope that others would be inspired. After all, he always referred to himself as a ‘steward’ of the collection, never its owner.”
According to Christie’s, the heart of the collection includes Jim Irsay’s profound assortment of music memorabilia, “featuring instruments and items owned and played by some of the greatest artists in music history,” including but not limited to Sir Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Van Halen, Janis Joplin, and more.
The Irsays say it is time Jim Irsay’s collection to have a new life and be cherished by “future stewards who understand their significance.”
“In honor of our dad’s lifelong focus on giving, a portion of the proceeds from the sale will go toward philanthropy close to his heart. Giving back was always central to his vision, and this next chapter honors that commitment,” the family said.
Jim Irsay’s collection will be visible during free public exhibitions accompanying the sales at Christie’s New York auction house, 20 Rockefeller Plaza.
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