London, Jan 15 (ANI): The furniture, which Michael Jackson commissioned for the English home he planned to rent during his 50-date stint at London's O2 Arena, is set to go under the hammer.
A top Italian furniture maker is to auction off sofas, chairs and desks the King of Pop ordered for the luxurious 15 million pounds residence.
In fact, the furniture maker has generously handed over the cash he paid for the extravagant items to the King of Pop's parents.
The late pop star planned to fill Foxbury Manor in Kent with costly Louis XIV and Louis XV replicas.
Aides were dispatched to Colombostile in Meda, near Milan, to handpick items for Jackson's English home and order custom-made, eye-popping furniture, crafted using the finest silks, leather, wood, gold leaf and even Swarovski crystals.
The 'Thriller' star reportedly paid more than 437,500 pounds for the 20-plus pieces, which ranged from a winged wall-mounted console and a Versace-inspired animal-print style table to a lavish hand-printed leather armchair with crystal legs and a replica of an ebony and inlaid wood desk, which was a gift to Louis XV from the Italian Ambassador.
However, Jackson never lived to see the furniture finished- it was still waiting to be shipped to England when Jackson died last summer (Jun09).
But, Colombostile bosses, instead of pocketing the cash MJ paid the craftsmen to create his dream décor, decided to refund it all to the star's grieving parents, Katherine and Joe.
Beverly Hills Luxury Interiors boss and designer to the stars, Kenneth Bordewick, worked as a consultant on the furniture project after designing the look of the rented Hollywood home where Jackson died.
"It was a very generous gesture and the Jacksons were so appreciative they sent Colombostile a letter of thanks," the Daily Express quoted Bordewick as saying.
"The Jackson collection really is remarkable - one parlour set was inspired by furniture at Tsar Nicholas II's Winter Palace for Michael Jackson's English palace. That alone would cost $600,000 because it features hand embroidery with 24-karat gold thread, Swarovski crystals and fine silk.
"Everything was grand and royal because Michael really wanted to be the king of his castle. He wanted to live like a king," he added. (ANI)
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