Lock of Mozart's hair going under the hammer at Sotheby's

LONDON (AP) — Music lovers have the chance to own a strand of history.

Auctioneer Sotheby's is selling a lock of hair from the head of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, resting in a gilt locket.

Taking composers' hair as keepsakes was common in the 18th and 19th centuries.

After Mozart died in 1791, aged 35, his widow gave the hair to the mother of German composer Karl Anschutz. It was acquired by the late British composer Arthur Sommervell and is being sold by his family.

The hair is up for auction Thursday with an estimated price of 10,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds ($15,400 to $18,450).

The sale also includes a lock of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair and an invitation to his 1827 funeral, together valued at 2,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds ($3,100 to $4,600).


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-27

Wonder if they'll sell for more than Elvis' underpants.

Mozart, Beethoven. Both Austrian. Pretty amazing. I like some of Beethoven's music better but he lived a lot longer. Mozart accomplished a great deal in his few years. They were each one of a kind.

kind of sick.

Mozart accomplished a great deal in his few years. They were each one of a kind.---neversure

Wonderful music-----some people achieve so much in their life. When Mozart was just half my age, he'd already written several symphonies.

Gives you a complex doesn't it-----Then again, when Sid Vicious was just half my age, he was dead, so I guess I'm okay really.......................

They won,t be able to auction off a lock of my hair, I don,t have any A shame that all the truly great musicians are long gone, I,m not feeling too well either