There are now hopes the Psychedelic Eye will return to the Beatle’s home city of Liverpool, from where it went missing in 1987.
The custom-made piece, which is constructed from more than 17,500 ceramic tiles each no bigger than a quarter of an inch square, was originally installed at the end of Lennon’s swimming pool in his mansion at Kenwood, Surrey, where the hits Yellow Submarine and Hey Jude were composed.
Lennon sold the house in 1968, and in 1982 it was sold to an anonymous Swedish businessman.
He, his wife and their music and television producer friend Bernie Cochrane, who bought half of the mosaic, decided it should be put on public display and sent it to the Liverpool’s international garden festival in 1985.
When the garden festival closed in 1987, arrangements were made to transfer it to the Alder Hey children’s hospital.But the Psychedelic Eye never arrived.
In 2005, its owners realised it was missing and began a search.
The artwork eventually turned up in Wirral, where a man who cleared the festival gardens site had taken it to, thinking it was abandoned.
Solicitor Joseph Walsh, of Brabners Chaffe Street, played a part in the negotiations to get the Psychedelic Eye back into the hands of its owners.He said: “We are pleased to say this unique piece of work is now back with its rightful owners.
“They are keen for the Psychedelic Eye to go on public display so as many people as possible can enjoy it , which is why they sent it to the garden festival in the first place.”
The 16ft attraction was taken to an expert restorer in Oxfordshire yesterday and it will next be valued by experts at top London auctioneer Sotherby’s. Mr Cochrane told the artwork will go on display in museums and galleries across the world. He added: “When it comes back to Liverpool, I will be keeping a very close eye on the Psychedelic Eye!”
(liverpoolecho)
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