Kurt Cobain's iconic 'Unplugged' unwashed cardigan sold for a record-breaking $334,000
- The green cardigan Kurt Cobain wore for Nirvana's famous "MTV Unplugged" appearance in 1993 sold at auction for $334,000, making it the most expensive sweater auction of all time.
- Julien's Auctions announced the sale of the sweater, which was worn by Cobain in New York City on November 18, 1993 and hasn't been washed since.
- A missing button, burn holes from cigarettes and other stains are still intact on the sweater, which rose to fame when the performance went on to become one of the band's most iconic appearances after the musician's death.
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The green cardigan Kurt Cobain wore for Nirvana's famous "MTV Unplugged" appearance in 1993 sold at auction for $334,000, making it the most expensive sweater auction of all time.
Julien's Auctions announced that the sweater, which was worn by Cobain in New York City on November 18, 1993 and hasn't been washed since, exceeded its projected sale value and smashed the record amid a wave of fresh interest in Cobain memorabilia.
A missing button, burn holes from cigarettes and other stains are still intact, the auction house noted when listing the garment, and if anything, add to the character associated with the 16-year-old sweater.
Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions told Rolling Stone earlier this month that keeping the garment unwashed was key to its appeal.
"It's very important that we don't wash it," Julien told Rolling Stone. "The stains are still there. There's even cigarette burns that you can see on the sweater."
Cobain died by suicide at age 27, about six months after the "Unplugged" taping. The performance went on to become one of the band's most iconic appearances, and the album version of the performance that was released in November 1994 sold more than 5 million copies.
Another sweater of Cobain's that was worn during his last photoshoot with Nirvana smashed another record when it sold for $75,000 earlier this year, more than twice what the auction house had forecasted.
The "Icons and Idols" auction took place on Friday and Saturday at New York's Hard Rock Cafe and saw Cobain's custom, left-handed Fender Mustang guitar, used during Nirvana's "In Utero" tour in 1993, sell for $340,000.
Other merchandise from stars like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, and Tupac Shakur was also included in the auction.
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