‘I just had two cookies and a Coke. That’s phenomenal.’
That’s what David Lynch said once, sitting in the backseat of a car with a floral garland around his neck. The director, writer, and full-time surrealist clearly loved the little things in life. But the Blue Velvet and Mullholland Drive filmmaker, who passed away this January, also amassed a vast archive of film memorabilia, personal cameras, abstract paintings, erotic art books, coffee machines, and Lynch’s own ‘lunchbox with trinkets’.
All of them are up for auction via LA auction house Julien’s and vintage TV network Turner Classic Movies. With online bids already live, The David Lynch Collection will go under the hammer on June 18, 2025. As you’d expect, the line-up of souvenirs is randomly assorted and quite diverse. In other words, Lynchian to the core.
What items are on sale?
The most sought-after items right now are understandably film-related memorabilia like Lynch’s own personalised director’s chair (current bid at $27,500), his personal 35mm prints of Eraserhead (current bid at $22,500), and those velvety red curtains from Twin Peaks: The Return (current bid at $15,000). A deeper dive through the online catalogue also takes you through other facets of Lynch’s quirky and whimsical life.
If you scroll past the cinematic heavy hitters, you can catch a glimpse of Lynch, the craftsman. Many of the sofas and tables being auctioned were crafted by Lynch himself and are sourced from his home art studio. Etsy aficionados should keep an eye out for an incense holder, again made by the man himself. But beware, it’s being bid at a whopping $7,000.
Lynch’s experimental and eerie choices weren’t just reflected in his films but also in his music. Having scored most of his films, Lynch avidly recorded solo music and championed other musicians as well, from Otis Redding to Lana Del Rey. So, it comes as little surprise that he also had an in-home music studio (aptly called Asymmetrical Music Studio), the relics of which are a part of the ongoing auction. These include a five-necked guitar (current bid at $7,000) that goes well with Lynch’s unorthodox musical styles. Another highly prized possession is a sleek 1997 Parker Fly guitar with a sleek metallic black finish (current bid at $10,000). Other items include guitar pedals, synths, and even a bright blue ukulele.
When it came to Lynch’s book collection, the man had plenty of classic paperbacks, photography books, woodworking manuals, and some collections of nude and erotica art. A specific section is also devoted to his spiritual reads, owing to his long-time fascination with transcendental meditation. Books on Tibetan Buddhism, titles by spiritualist Deepak Chopra, and The Complete Book of Yogic Flying.
The auteur’s many diverse interests in film, music, and spirituality are evident in the collection, but some items also reflect that he was a man very much like us. At $500, you can amass Lynch’s collection of boardgames, including usual favourites like Scrabble and a 1000-piece jigsaw. A lunchbox full of nostalgia-inducing trinkets like a diecast car and a spinning top is also currently being bid at $1,250.
And perhaps what made Lynch the most relatable to us mere non-Lynchian mortals was his love for a cup of Joe. Coffee is a recurring theme in the collection, which makes sense given how Lynch once told VICE that he finds ‘a good friend’ in a cup of coffee. Up for sale are commercial espresso grinders and home coffee machines, along with numerous Twin Peaks-themed coffee mugs.
Which auction items are affordable for the average David Lynch fan?
Hate to break it to you folks; nothing is worth a Coke and some cookies in the David Lynch Collection. Currently, the lowest bid goes to $300, which can get you an ‘EcoloBlue Atmosphere Water Generator’. Add a hundred dollars more and you can get some light stands with carrying cases. The board games, a set of guitar amplifiers, and an exercise bike all go under the bid for $500 each. Seemingly plain dinner plates at $600; you get the rest.
When is the auction happening?
Online bids are already live, with the auction scheduled for June 18, 2025 at 10am PST at Los Angeles.
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