Russell Crowe is selling his a vast collection of movie and sports memorabilia.
Russell Crowe is selling his a vast collection of movie and sports memorabilia.
The bat New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe used to score his 17th and final test century against England at Old Trafford has sold for an astonishing $20,000 - and it's coming home.
The coveted 1994 bat was one of 30 items either owned, purchased or gifted to Martin Crowe over his career in cricket. Crowe died from cancer in 2016.
The items were part of the auction: "Russell Crowe: The Art of Divorce" which was held last night on behalf of Crowe's A-list actor cousin.
The auction was described by Sotheby's as "a selection of major works" from Russell Crowe's private collection.
The date - of April 7 - is significant to the actor as it is both his birthday and wedding anniversary.
It is understood Russell Crowe bought his cricketing cousin's gear when Martin was having a clear-out in 2006.
Russell paid twice what Martin had been offered by an auction house and promised his cousin if he ever sold the gear for more than what he paid he would share the profit with Martin.
That share will now go to Martin's daughter Emma, 15.
The A-lister also sold his vast collection of movie and sports memorabilia, including chariots and swords from Gladiator, boxing gloves and robes from Cinderella Man and clothing from Robin Hood.
When Kiwi cricket fan Adam Gilshnan heard of the auction he set up a Givealittle campaign to try and bring Crowe's gear back to New Zealand.
That Givealittle money and other private donations saw the famed Gunn & Moore bat and Crowe's New Zealand Cricket Club blazer from the 1980s secured.
The items would be donated to the Wellington New Zealand Cricket Museum.
Museum director, Jamie Bell was thrilled two special items would be in New Zealand for all to enjoy.
"The immense out-pouring of support for Adam's campaign exemplifies the feeling that Aotearoa has towards Martin Crowe and his legacy.
"There's little doubt of the impact Martin had on cricket – whether as player, captain, commentator, or innovator – but this campaign reminds us that he has a place among our broader social history."
Included in the auction, viewed by hundreds live on social media, was a New Zealand test cricket '200 Club' cricket bat, the bat used to score Crowe's 17th and final test century and his signed New Zealand 1992 World Cup cap and shirt - that had a winning bid of $6000.
The auction also included scoreboard numbers understood to have been purchased by Martin Crowe from a charity auction at the Sydney Cricket Grounds.
The numbers were said to be significant to Crowe because they can be arranged 299, which was his highest score in Test cricket. They sold for $2400.
But it was the movie memorabilia that pulled in the big bucks.
A stunt cuirass worn by Russell Crowe in the scene depicting the death of character Maximus in the film Gladiator sold for a staggering $120,000 - $100,000 more than its estimated value.
There were also unusual items such as a plaster cast of Muhammad Ali's face, a life size prop of a horse and a brown leather jock strap worn by Crowe in Cinderella Man with a winning bid of $7000.
A mounted skull of a Mosasaur from the late Cretaceous Period sold for $65,000.
The 227 items up for grabs were part of a purge-like cleansing after his divorce from Danielle Spencer.
The pair parted amicably in 2012 and divorced five years later.
Spencer auctioned off a number of diamond rings and other jewelry.
EARLIER:
Memorabilia of New Zealand cricketing legend Martin Crowe is set to sell across the ditch at an auction sparked by the sportsman's famous cousin's divorce.
The Sotheby's Auction in Sydney "Russell Crowe: The Art of Divorce" is being held by the famous actor who is the cousin of the late Martin Crowe.
The auction is underway with the first of Martin Crowe's memorabilia to be auctioned at lot 101.
Sotheby's Australia presents Russell Crowe - The Art of Divorce.
All pre-registered bidders, please proceed to the following link to place your bids.
https://www.sothebysaustralia.com.au/catalogue/AU0822
A pair of blue Everlast boxer shorts from the film Cinderella Man sold for $10,000 and a brown leather jock strap had a winning bid of $7,000.
Crowe himself took to the stage and welcomed the bidders with a "are you having a little bit of fun, it's exciting isn't it" he then introduced Lot 31 - a violin made by Leandro Bisiach snr in 1890 and used by Russell Crowe in the film Master and Commander.
A brown leather jock strap had a winning bid of $7,000.
He asked the successful bidder to share the violin with a budding musician to learn on.
The violin sold for $135,000.
The auction is described by Sotheby's as "a selection of major works" from his private collection. The date - of April 7 - is significant to the actor as it is both his birthday and wedding anniversary.
The A-lister is selling his a vast collection of movie and sports memorabilia, including chariots and swords from Gladiator, boxing gloves and robes from Cinderella Man and items from Crowe's cricketing years.
There are also unusual items such as a plaster cast of Muhammad Ali's face, a life size prop of a horse and a brown leather jock strap worn by Crowe in Cinderella Man.
The 227 items up for grabs were part of a purge-like cleansing after his divorce from Danielle Spencer.
The pair parted amicably in 2012 and divorced five years later.
