Crowe’s big ‘divorce auction’

A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR auction of Russell Crowe’s prized possessions will be “cathartic” for the Oscarwinning actor, who is using the event to deal with his divorce from Danielle Spencer.

An eclectic mix of movie memorabilia, Australian art, musical instruments, jewellery and sporting collectibles will be up for grabs today, which also marks Crowe’s birthday and wedding anniversary.

The actor stands to make $2.6-$3.7 million from the Sydney auction, where the priciest item, the 1986 Grammy Award presented to Johnny Cash, is estimated to sell for up to $300,000.

Auction house Sotheby’s Australia chief executive Gary Singer said the event, titled The Art of Divorce, had been a year in the making and was devised by Crowe as a way to deal with the end of his nine-year marriage to Spencer, following their separation in 2012.

“It’s cathartic having a bit of a clean-out,” Mr Singer said.

“[Crowe] said, ‘It’s a watershed moment in my life. I need to deal with it in some way, to understand’.” The actor says the “highly personal collection” began many years ago, with many of the 227 items listed collected during his marriage to Spencer.

“I am not sure when the collecting bug took hold. Maybe as a child with coins, or maybe with stamps, or maybe at around 11, with football cards,” Crowe said in a statement.

As part of the sale, the actor will part with numerous artworks, 28 watches and 19 varieties of diamond jewellery.

Some of the auction’s unique items include a fully functioning replica Roman chariot from the film Gladiator (2000).