Sotheby’s will auction Eddie Van Halen’s custom-built 1982 Kramer guitar, estimated at $2–3 million, as the centerpiece of its inaugural “Grails Week” in New York this October. The instrument, unseen for over 40 years, was played on tour, later owned by Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, and features Van Halen’s iconic red, black, and white striped design. The week-long sales series will also include Bob Dylan lyrics, Rolling Stones album artwork, and a Beatles cymbal.
The auction reflects a strategic pivot by major auction houses toward pop-culture collectibles as fine art sales decline—down 44% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2022, per ArtTactic. Luxury goods now account for over a fifth of sales at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, a record share. Sotheby’s new Popular Culture department and Grails Week aim to capture this growing market, signaling a broader shift in the auction world from traditional art to high-end memorabilia.