Image Credit: Henry LeutwylerWe’re coming up on a year since Michael Jackson’s untimely death, but the late King of Pop’s stuff lives on. Not just his music, though that’s here to stay, too. I mean Jackson’s actual worldly possessions: the assorted knick-knacks, portraits, and outfits that only he could have collected at Neverland Ranch. Photographer Henry Leutwyler has documented some of this treasure trove for an upcoming book, Neverland Lost. And today, noted MJ fan Kanye West has posted many of Leutwyler’s most striking images on his personal blog.
Leutwyler’s images capture something essential about the bizarrely beautiful palace that Jackson built for himself. There are statues of angels and Disney characters; Wizard of Oz and toy-soldier figurines; even what looks like an original hardcover of Peter Pan. There are all manner of sequined hats, socks, shoes, and of course gloves — so many individual sparkly gloves, in so many hues. There are personalized military uniforms and basketball jerseys. There’s an MTV Artist of the Decade award. I find the shots of thrones and related regalia, like the one (above) of a monogrammed crown sitting alone on a velvet pillow, to be particularly haunting. Jackson surely had that crown commissioned as a celebration of his unparalleled success. Knowing how his story ended, though, it’s hard not to see it as a faintly empty and tragic image.
Click over to KanyeWest.com to peruse the full set. What do you think of these photos? Which are your favorites?
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I don’t get the draw, most of the white items were not laundered, and I found that disgusting.
I did like the purple beaded gloves.
There was only one item that wasn’t laundered and it’s a costume. So I don’t understand Gata’s comment.
EW – many of these “regalia” type items were not commissioned by MJ, they were given as gifts. And many of them, like the throne, were from photoshoots, not necessarily something that MJ would use on a daily basis.
Yup, MJ fans lavished him with gifts of everything his heart desired if he even hinted at something.
Sad and tragic… I think not. Only sad that he didn’t get to make the comeback ‘This is It’ assures he would have to show, once again, that despite what uninformed moronic journalists and reactionary media addicts did to destroy him, anyone who spends more than 5 minutes looking for the real MJ can see that the man, astonishingly, still kept his own council and his gifts firmly intact. Also, isn’t it a tad presumptuous to assume that his kids didn’t enrich his life during the last 12 years? Brace yourselves, because as real journalists come forward to sort through the wreckage in an attempt to piece together the story of his attempted destruction by the media and various blood-sucking hangers-on, history will be rewritten… this time with facts. His own kids will likely make sure of it. People like you merely swim in the wake of a true creative giant who, in every non-tainted interaction anyone has seen him in (including those who were very close, like Frank Dileo), had more humility than ANY of today’s so-called celebrities.
MDes – excellent post.
Thanks for putting it so well…
Well said
thank you for this–I could not have said it better.
For the pleasure of the thousands of children, many terminally ill, who Jackson freely opened Neverland to, he furnished it lavishly with everything that he felt could bring joy & delight to them. That it also brought joy & delight to parents & other adults was an added blessing from this generous & wonderful man.
“I’m-a let you finish, but Michael Jackson had the greatest stuff of all time! OF ALL TIME!”
but in all seriousness… this is pretty cool.