For David Gilmour, guitars were never just instruments. They helped create some of Pink Floyd’s most recognisable music, shaping solos heard on albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Yet in 2019, the guitarist decided to part with more than 120 pieces from his personal collection, sending them to auction at Christie’s in New York. The sale brought in $21,490,750, and Gilmour donated the proceeds to ClientEarth, an environmental law charity working to tackle climate change and protect nature. Christie’s described the event as the most valuable musical instruments sale in auction history at the time. For Gilmour, the decision was not simply about finding new homes for cherished guitars. He hoped their next chapter could help support a future in which people could continue to make music on a liveable planet.
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