Motown Mansion Contents Being Auctioned Off, Including Berry Gordy’s Piano

Berry Gordy Jr.’s personal piano and more than 600 original 45s from the famed record label’s catalog are up for auction as part of a massive estate sale of Detroit’s famed Motown Mansion, reports Rolling Stone. Countless ‘60s era home furnishings – including Gordy’s desk, an inscribed goblet from Jermaine Jackson’s 1973 wedding, “vintage boomerangs,” unseen home movies and slide and a Motown Collection Barometer – are also available as part of the Aaron Estate Sale auction, which takes place today (Oct. 13) an tomorrow (Oct. 14). “This home is an important part of the fabric of the City of Detroit, and the sale will allow Motown fans from Detroit to Dubai to add a permanent piece to their own collection,” said Cynthia F. Reaves, current owner of the Motown Mansion. “The scope of the collection includes small items as well as impressive collection pieces. I wanted to make this an event that is available to the entire community and at the same time, celebrate the history of what Berry Gordy did for Motown.” Gordy purchased the mansion in 1967 and continued to own the home even after moving to Los Angeles in the early ‘70s. Gordy sold the home in 2002, but the Motown Mansion preserved the record exec’s style and décor. Smokey Robinson was among the Motown artists that played the estate sale’s most notable item – Gordy’s Steinway piano – when they visited Gordy’s home. Diana Ross and the Jackson 5 also frequently graced the home. Motown artists such as the Four Tops’ Duke Fakir, Kim Weston, the Vandellas and more will also be on hand to autograph items from the estate sale this weekend.