Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection

Sale Overview

Celebrating the most influential guitarist of his generation, Christie’s is honoured to present Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, comprising guitars and amplifiers which shine a spotlight on the pioneering sound and songwriting genius of multi award-winning music icon Johnny Marr.

Since co-founding the groundbreaking 1980s band The Smiths, Johnny Marr’s career has spanned multiple genres and collaborations alongside his solo career. He has been a member of The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, The Healers, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, and has collaborated with a roll call of greats across indie, rock, pop and film, including Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Beck, Hans Zimmer, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Blondie, Gorillaz, and Franz Ferdinand.

A dream opportunity for fans, collectors and music aficionados around the globe, the auction features around 90 guitars and amplifiers – each imbued with songs, stories and emotions – chronicling the career of an artist who is widely recognised as a true genius of his generation. These guitars have been used to write, record and perform his most celebrated compositions throughout his career, with several featuring on his latest album, The Age of Everything, which is released on 2 October 2026.

Auction times

17 Sep 02:00 PM (BST) Lots 1-112

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Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection | Private & Iconic Collections

Amelia Walker

Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections | Private & Iconic Collections

Amelia Walker is a Senior Specialist and Specialist Head of the Private & Iconic Collections department, with over 20 years of experience in the organisation and sale of multi-category private, iconic and country house collections. Most recently playing an integral role in the record-breaking sales of The Jim Irsay Collection, Amelia has overseen many landmark sales including Jeff Beck: The Guitar Collection (2025), The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection (2024), The Robin & Rupert Hambro Collection (2023), the Collection of Lord and Lady Weinstock (2022), Sir Nicholas Goodison (2022), Robert de Balkany (2017), A Surreal Legacy (2016), Sting and Trudie Styler (2015), and many others. Amelia is interested in all aspects of collecting, including fine and decorative art from antiquity to the contemporary, as well as music, film, sports and entertainment memorabilia.

Venetia Jolly

Senior Coordinator and Cataloguer | Private & Iconic Collections

Venetia joined Christie’s in 2021 having previously worked at The Althorp Estate, The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and The British Museum. Venetia has worked in Private & Iconic Collections since 2022, during which time she has handled a number of notable iconic single-owner collection sales, including Sixty Years of James Bond, Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone, and The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection.

Venetia holds a joint Bachelor’s degree in History and Art History from Newcastle University and a Master’s degree in History of Art from University College London.