Last Michael Jackson home items auctioned

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A California auctioneer said buyers had 524 items to choose from at an auction of furniture from the home where pop star Michael Jackson died in 2009.

Two paintings that fetched five-figure sale prices were the most-expensive items to sell at the auction in Beverly Hills Saturday.

The auction was largely made up of fairly ordinary furniture and household goods from the rented mansion that Jackson did not actually own. CNN Sunday said the sale was not even billed as being related to Michael Jackson, however, the address of the lot was familiar enough to run up the bidding.

By Saturday evening, the most-expensive items sold were a $35,200 watercolor still life by Maurice Utrillo and a $46,875 oil painting by Adelsteen Normann.

Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, told the network the items would ordinarily bring in about $400,000, however, the link to Jackson and his untimely death meant "the sky's the limit."

CNN said other items on the block included the nightstand from Jackson's bedroom and an armoire with the inspirational message, "Train, perfection March April Full out May," which Jackson wrote on the mirror as he ramped up for what would have been his comeback world tour.