Bonhams auctioned 29 lots from the collection of late musician and actor Marianne Faithfull in its recurring 'Sound & Cinema' online sale, which concluded on November 24. The lots included eight artworks personally owned by Faithfull, such as an intimate portrait by South African painter Marlene Dumas that sold for $5,806—exceeding its estimate—and works by Anita Pallenberg, Martin Sharp, and others. The entire Faithfull consignment brought in $85,723, with proceeds going to her son Nicholas Dunbar.
The sale matters because it offers a rare glimpse into the personal taste and friendships of a cultural icon who, beyond her fame as a Rolling Stones muse, struggled to be recognized as an artist in her own right. The artworks—many gifted by artist friends or tied to specific moments in Faithfull's life—reveal her deep connections within the art world and her role as a curator, as seen in her 2012 group show at Tate Liverpool. The auction also highlights the enduring market for celebrity-owned art and ephemera, where personal provenance can drive prices above estimates.