Martin Crowe items sold at cousin Russell’s auction

SYDNEY: Oscarwinner Russell Crowe has raked in more than $A3.7 million ($NZ3.9 million) by selling a range of artwork, jewellery, movie props and cricket memorabilia at his ‘‘divorce auction’’ in Sydney.

The actor, whose selloff coincided with his 54th birthday, made a surprise appearance at the event on Saturday night, to see some of his fondest possessions go under the hammer.

‘‘Not a bad hourly rate for a 5hour shift,’’ he tweeted.

Among the items was the bat used by Crowe’s cousin and former test cricketer Martin Crowe to score his final test century. It sold for $A20,000. Martin Crowe’s New Zealand cricket blazer sold for $A700 and a second bat he used to score 142 test runs against England at Lord’s in 1994 also sold for $A20,000.

The items were bought by the New Zealand Cricket Museum with money raised by private donors and a Givealittle page.

Museum director Jamie Bell said two of the items played a significant role in New Zealand’s cricket history.

‘‘So the bat that Martin scored his 17th and final test century with, which was the New Zealand record up until a couple of weeks ago, when Kane Williamson took his place in history and scored his 18th century, and the other item is the blazer from the 1982 to 83 tour to Australia.’’

More than 85% of the 227 items were sold, including a violin used in the 2003 film Master and Commander, which went for $A135,000.

Many of the items far exceeded the expectations of auction house Sotheby’s Australia, including costumes and props from the 2000 movie Gladiator. A buyer paid $A125,000 for the stunt cuirass worn by Crowe, while a replica Roman chariot went for $A65,000.

Costumes from the 2012’s Les Miserables, in which Crowe played Javert, fetched up to $16,000.

Eyewatering amounts were shelled out for artwork, including $A360,000 for a 1960 Charles Blackman, but other items were far less orthodox. One bidder stumped up $A7000 for the leather jockstrap Crowe wore in Cinderella Man (2005) and two lifesized prop horses from Gladiator went for $5500.

The auction followed Crowe’s divorce from Danielle Spencer.