Jimmy Johnstone is a man who needs no introduction. One of the finest footballers of all time, and the greatest ever Celt, he was immortalised in 2005 with 19 Faberge eggs being made in his honour by the famous Russian jeweler. Priced at £10,000 each, Jinky received the proceeds of the sales and all the eggs were swiftly snapped up.
On creating the prestigious items, family descendant Sarah Faberge said: “I am not a big football fan, but wanted to do something to help. He (Johnstone) was inspirational as a footballer and now he is inspiring people as he battles his illness (motor neuron disease). People admire him for different reasons now.”
The Jimmy Johnstone eggs were made from silver, enamel, yellow and black gold and feature the medals of his main achievements: the European Cup, the Scottish League title, the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.
Now, number 15 of the 19 limited edition eggs, has been put up for auction with Glasgow based auctioneering firm Mctear’s. Presented as a finial in sterling silver and a 24 carat gold symbol of Celtic’s triumph in winning the European Cup, the egg has an estimated value of £7,000-10,000.
Described in the below way by the auction website, the item is available as part of the Sporting Medals & Trophies collection, and bidding is open until next Friday 13 August:
The lion presides over the badges of Celtic’s winners medals-the European Cup medal to the front; to the reverse the Scottish League Championship medal; and flanking them, to the left the Scottish Football Association Cup and to the right the Scottish Football League Cup Medals. Struck in the original dies, gilded and hand-enamelled, the sterling medals intersperse a reminder of Jimmy Johnstone`s origins with the coal pithead-four winding-shaft supports, fashioned in silver and black gold. The top of the Egg itself is hand engine-turned on sterling silver and precious rhodium. The lower half of the creation is adorned with Celtic Football Club`s badge proclaiming its 1888 origin and produced here with specific authority from the Club. The badge is counterbalanced by the motif from `The Lord of the Wing` motion picture, which celebrates Jimmy Johnstone`s career and achievement. To the sides, seven magic Celtic rings, also in hand-enamelled silver. The bezel is an echo of the `Jungle`, whose corrugated roof it commemorates. Open the Egg and view the surprise. On a field of gold and hallmarked silver, Jimmy Johnstone himself, poised aslant as he presses forward: Celtic`s legendary player, triumphantly modelled in silver and fine gold, at his feet a sterling silver and black gold diamond-studded football. Jimmy`s signature authenticates the creation. Sarah Faberge places her Jimmy Johnstone Egg on a foot with seven steps in final witness of Jinky`s number and of the `Jungle` terraces from which he would have happily stood watching his heroes had it not been for his own amazing God-given talents. Sarah adds her signature beneath, engraved and attesting the edition issue. Limited edition of 19 for the World Market. This is number 15, 17.5cm high
Condition reports indicate issues being visible to the naked eye, though it is described as “generally good to fair, without damages.” The cover is certainly fine, but the surface which Johnstone is mounted on has a number of light scratches, and there is an area of tarnish to the front.
Viewing is open to the public from Tuesday 12 August at 12pm. For details on how to bid, visit Mctear’s website by clicking HERE.
