Jackson fans leave auction tributes

Michael Jackson fans had an early look at items that will be sold at auction from the singer’s final home and left behind tributes to the King of Pop.

Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California, which is selling the contents of the home where Jackson, 50, died in 2009, opened its doors to Jackson fans, who brought flowers, gifts and handwritten notes for the singer’s children.

The company recreated the home at 100 North Carolwood Drive inside its exhibit space.

The headboard of the bed where Jackson died was removed from the auction at his family’s request, so fans filled that part of his reconstructed bedroom with their tributes.

The exhibit is free and open to the public before the auction on Saturday.

Karen Jackson, 57, and Kiki Stafford, 47, were moved to tears as they walked among the items that surrounded Jackson in his final days.

They included the Victorian baby grand piano, the wooden armoire where Jackson had written a note to himself on the mirror, the kitchen chalkboard where his children inscribed the message, “I love daddy”.

Ms Jackson stayed up all night working on her creation, a charm-covered chain anchored by a metal “M” that included tiny photos of Jackson’s children Prince, Paris and Blanket.

“I’ve been working on this for a year,” she said. “I hadn’t finished it because I didn’t know how to get it to them.”

“This means a lot, because we don’t have a place to go” to leave things for the family, said Christine Tucker, spokeswoman for the Official Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California. About 25 members of the fan club spent the weekend making and delivering glitter-covered cards and hand-made Christmas ornaments for the tribute.

“He inspires us to create. We make these beautiful things and we want his kids and his mom to see it.”

Darren Julien, president of Julien’s Auctions, said he sought permission from the Jackson estate to include fans in the auction exhibit, and family matriarch Katherine Jackson requested that he deliver any hand-made items from fans to her.

“They put their hearts into it because they want the kids and Mrs Jackson to see how much love they have for Michael,” Mr Julien said.

“Michael Jackson has played such an important part in our careers and lives, and this is a fun way to give back. This is Michael’s VIP reception.”

Julien’s Auctions sold the contents of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in April 2009. The company also sold Jackson’s Thriller jacket for $1.8m over the summer and his signature-spangled glove for $350,000 in 2009.