India, Oct. 25 -- Have you ever held on to something for years because of the memories it carried? Now imagine parting with more than 120 of them in a single day. That's what the Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler did in London. According to Christie's, the auction house that handled the sale, his guitars and amps sold for £8,840,160, including buyer's fees, on January 31, 2024. Some of the proceeds went to charities he supports. Knopfler said, "This auction has been an incredible journey."

The sale, called The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection, took place at Christie's in London and lasted over six hours. Christie's reported that all 122 lots sold. The final total included the buyer's premium, an extra fee paid on top of the winning...