Robbie Williams paid £20,000 for Eric Morecambe’s imitation tortoiseshell glasses and pipe, a sum far exceeding the £2,000 to £4,000 estimate.
Williams explained that he had always seen the comedian as an “uncle of sorts” and was deeply moved by the purchase. He recalled shedding “happy, childlike tears” after submitting the top bid during the auction last month.
Ahead of his 51st birthday, Williams treated himself to the items, and shared the experience on Instagram, posting photos of himself using the glasses and pipe. He described how he had appointed Mike, a member of his team, as the “chief bidder” while he was in Los Angeles.
Throughout the auction, Williams communicated with his wife, Ayda, asking for advice on whether to keep bidding, with her encouraging him to “keep going.”
Once the bidding ended in his favor, Williams reflected on the deep emotional connection he felt to Morecambe, writing, “Eric has always been mine. An uncle of sorts.” He also shared how Morecambe’s comedic spirit has been a source of comfort for him, stating, “To the very core of me, Eric Morecambe’s spirit has been salve for my soul.”
The glasses, by Metzler, were part of a collection of Morecambe’s belongings sold by Hanson Auctioneers in January 2024, more than 40 years after the comedian’s death in 1984.
The auction also included his Barling briar pipe and two black-and-white photos of him wearing the spectacles.