Kurt Cobain’s guitar and “MTV Unplugged” sweater head to auction

One of the most iconic images in rock history depicts Kurt Cobain: his long blond hair, melancholy look, mocking smile, wearing an olive green cardigan and acoustic guitar in his arms. Maybe that's why millions of fans were thrilled to learn that the now-famous item, worn in November 1993 by the singer during the MTV Unplugged in New York recorded just five months before the artist's suicide (April 5, 1994), is going up at auction. On October 25 and 26, the Julien auction house will offer the sweater for an amount that is estimated to reach $300,000 (about €270,000).

The garment, made of a blend of acrylic, mohair and lycra, features a five-button closure (missing one botton) and two exterior pockets, is still unwashed. As guaranteed by the auctioneer Darren Julien:

“The stains are still there. There’s even cigarettes burns that you can see on the sweater.”

The man, mentioning that this is the second time this cardigan has been on the market, added:

“The person that bought the sweater in 2015 bought it as an investment. Now, because we’ve been getting record prices for Kurt Cobain, people are starting to sell it. We anticipate that it will sell for more than double. I call it the new fine art market. People are investing more and more in pop culture, especially rock & roll. It’s a way to diversify their portfolios.”

At the end of October, on the same event, it will also be possible to buy the turquoise-bodied left-handed guitar that Cobain played between 1993 and 1994 during the last tour of  Nirvana,"In Utero". In recent years, the instrument had remained on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.