More than 16 years after his death, Malcolm McLaren's legacy continues to stir controversy. The late punk impresario, fashion designer, and music producer's death mask has been put up for auction, sparking a heated dispute among his family members. the mask, cast in a mixutre of bronze powder and resin, was taken from his body shortly after he died of cancer in 2010 and is estimated to fetch between £4,000 and £6 ,000 at Bonhams' 50 Years of Punk auction.

The £4,000-£6,000 Death Mask Auction

The death mask of Malcolm McLaren has surfaced at Bonhams' 50 Years of Punk auction with an estimated price tag of £4,000 to £6,000. The mask was created by specialist sculptor Nick Reynolds, son of Bruce Reynolds, who was reputed to have masterminded the £2.6 million Great Train Robbery in 1963. According to Bonhams, the auction house has sufficiently checked the provenance of the mask, despite objections from McLaren's gilrfriend, Young Kim.

Young Kim's Accusations Against McLaren's Brother and Son

Young Kim, McLaren's girlfriend and a Korean-born American writer, has accused his brother Stuart Edwards and son Joe Corre of treating the late punk impresario as a cash cow. Kim, who commissioned the mould for the death mask, insists she never gave permission for a cast to be made, let alone put on sale in a public auction. She likened the sale to someone dragging his body through the streets, according to Bonhams.

Joe Corre's Claim to the Death Mask

Joe Corre, McLaren's only son with Vivienne Westwood, the Agent Provocateur lingerie entrepreneur, insists he commissioned and paid for the mould and death mask. corre's claim adds another layer of complexity to the already deeply dysfunctional McLaren family feud. The dispute has brought to light the ongoing tensions within the family over McLaren's legacy and the commercialization of his image.

The Dysfunctional McLaren Family Feud

The auction of Malcolm McLaren's death mask has reignited a bitter family feud that has been simmering for years. Starting with his elder brother Stuart Edwards, a former black cab driver now in his 80s, who put the mask in the sale. The feud involves accusations of exploiting McLaren's legacy for financial gain, with Young Kim and Joe Corre at odds over the ownership and commercialization of the death mask.

Vivienne Westwood's Legacy Under Scrutiny

The late fashion maven, Vivienne Westwood, is dismissed by some as someone with no direction, no education, and who lived on Malcolm's creative coat tails. Without him, she'd have been someone's housewife, if she was lucky. He created her, according to Young Kim. This statement adds another dimension to the family feud, highlighting the complex relationships and rivalries within the McLaren family and their associates.