Here Are the Most Metal Items From Black Sabbath Frontman Ronnie James Dio’s Estate Sale, Ranked

Who's in the market for an 11-foot animatronic sphinx?

Poster for "The Estate of Ronnie James Dio" sale at Julien's.

He’s the man who literally invented the “heavy metal horns” hand gesture: Ronnie James Dio. The beloved rocker, perhaps best know as Ozzy Osbourne’s replacement as lead singer of Black Sabbath, died at 67 back in 2010. But if you’re still craving a blast of Dio’s dark magic, Julien’s Auctions has you covered.

Property From the Estate of Ronnie James Dio” is set for September 14 and 15, with online bidding open now. All the items go on view at New York’s Hard Rock Café Times Square beforehand, and they have immediately sent Dio fans salivating like beasts.

Chillingly, the number of items in the sale adds up to EXACTLY 666.

Perhaps the star lot is an acrylic painting by Barry Jackson, used as the cover for Dio’s 1984 album The Last in Line, which is estimated at $20,000-30,000. For metal devotees, the sale also features an implausible number of guitars (including a 1961 Gibson EB-0 bass guitar, estimated at $8,000-$10,000) and some extremely rock-and-roll blouses and pantaloons (including a pair of star-and-moon jeans, worn while he was in Rainbow, estimated at $2,000–$4,000).

Barry Jackson artwork used as the cover art for the Dio album <em>The Last in Line.</em> Image courtesy Julien's Auctions.

Barry Jackson artwork used as the cover art for the Dio album The Last in Line. Image courtesy Julien’s Auctions.

But let’s face it, those are hardly the most rockin’ items in the sale. So we’ve taken the liberty of going through every lot in the estate and ranking them for their sheer metal-ness.

MOST METAL

10. This “Sign of the Horn” Jewelry Set

Ronnie James Dio rings. Image courtesy Julien's

Ronnie James Dio rings. Image courtesy Julien’s.

Hey, if you are going to get only ONE “sign of the horn” jewelry set, make it this one from the man who started it all. (Est. $100-200)

 

9. These Boots

Ronnie James Dio custom boots. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio custom boots. Image courtesy Julian’s.

The “Ronnie James Dio” sale is a rich seam of awesome clothing. For our money, you can’t beat these custom-made boots “with antler button enclosure.” Bids start at just $100.

 

8. This Sweet Piece of Fan Art

Ronnie James Dio fan art painting. Image courtesy Julien's

Ronnie James Dio fan art painting. Image courtesy Julien’s.

As for fine art, the main type Dio collected is that very specific genre: fan art. The anonymous artist behind this acrylic-on-canvas masterpiece of modern Surrealism did the genre proud! (Est. $200-400)

 

7. These Giant Stage Ribs

Dio "stage-used rib bones." Image courtesy Julian's.

Dio “stage-used rib bones.” Image courtesy Julian’s.

Looking for some enormous prop ribs? “Property from the Estate of Ronnie James Dio” sale is your place! These ribs hail from Dio’s 1990 “Lock Up the Wolves” tour. (Est. $200-300)

 

6. This “Black Widow” Bracelet

Ronnie James Dio “Black Widow” bracelet. Image courtesy Julien’s.

Ronnie James Dio “Black Widow” bracelet. Image courtesy Julien’s.

A leather bracelet, with an “acrylic-encased black widow spider” as gem. It comes with a magazine featuring Dio sporting the bracelet on the cover!

With six bids, the price has already blown through its high estimate and stands at $450.

 

5. This Sword and Crossbow Combo

 

Ronnie James Dio sword and crossbow. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio sword and crossbow. Image courtesy Julian’s.

A prop versions of a rapier and crossbow, for all your posing-with-rapier-and-crossbow needs. (Est. $400-600)

 

4. These Bladed Gloves

Ronnie James Dio "Freddie Kruger" gloves and script. Image courtesy Julien's

Ronnie James Dio “Freddie Kruger” gloves and script. Image courtesy Julien’s

Let’s be clear: These aren’t just any Freddie Kruger-style bladed gloves.

These are CUSTOM-MADE Freddie Kruger cloves, with the blades fixed in the “heavy metal horns” gesture and, in the words of the description, “crudely fitted with pyrotechnics.”

Proving Dio was a true fan of the cinematic original, the gloves are sold with a draft of the script for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. (Est. $500-700)

 

3. This Animatronic Sphinx

Dio animatronic sphinx. Image courtesy Julian's.

Dio animatronic sphinx. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Now we’re into the real Spinal Tap stuff. At some six feet high and more than 11 feet long, this sweet sphinx (its part of a set of two) is aptly described as “monumental” by the auction house. The head was “originally intended to swivel using a motor housed in the base,” which I think means it swivels no more.

Still awesome though. (Est. $2,000-4,000)

 

2. This Dragon Head

Dio dragon head. Image courtesy Julian's.

Dio dragon head. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Speaking of removable heads… this one was originally a part of an ENTIRE ROBOTIC DRAGON that Dio led to the stage to be slain each night during his 1985-’86 “Sacred Heart” tour.

Alas, it is the only part of the beast that survives. The dragon head is “constructed in metal and painted fiberglass with backlit red eyes and hydraulic articulated jaws.”

Worried about where you will store it? It also comes with a custom-fitted rolling crate. (Est. $3,000-5,000)

 

1. This Robot Spider

 

Ronnie James Dio's robotic spider. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio’s robotic spider. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Check this description: “A massive [eight-foot long!!] hydraulic powered welded aluminum black widow spider with eight fully articulated and bladed legs emanating from a central thorax fitted with eight spotlights with retractable caged head containing an additional light and red gel…”

Eight. Fully Articulated. BLADED. Legs!

Now that is METAL.

“During the 1988 Dio Dream Evil Tour the spider was suspended above the stage and slain by the band.” (Est. $5,000-7,000)

 

LEAST METAL

 

5. This Signed Script for “The Man With Two Brains”

"The Man With Two Brains" autographed script. Image courtesy Julien's.

“The Man With Two Brains” autographed script. Image courtesy Julien’s.

This is a copy of the script for the wildly goofy 1983 Steve Martin comedy The Man With Two Brains. It’s dedicated to Ronnie by screenwriter George Gipe, who admits he is “the bottom man on the totem pole.” Which is charming—but metal? We don’t think so. (Est. $300-500)

 

4. This Stool

Ronnie James Dio's home studio stool. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio’s home studio stool. Image courtesy Julian’s.

“A black tubular metal stool with black wood seat.” Literally made of metal, but that’s all we can say for it. (Est. $200-300)

 

3. This Other Stool

Ronnie James Dio's home studio stool. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio’s home studio stool. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Not EVEN literally made of metal. (Est. $200-300)

 

2. This Back to the Future Box Set

Ronnie James Dio's "Back to the Future" box set, signed by Michael J. Fox. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio’s Back to the Future box set, signed by Michael J. Fox. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Signed by Marty McFly himself—though not, as far as we can tell, to Dio personally. More for fans of Michael J. Fox than of Sabbath. Though you gotta imagine Dio loving Back to the Future‘s “I’m sorry fellas, you’re just too darn loud” scene. (Est. $200-$300)

 

1. This Postcard to His Parents

Ronnie James Dio postcard to parents. Image courtesy Julian's.

Ronnie James Dio postcard to parents. Image courtesy Julian’s.

Sent in 1973 to Dio’s parents in New York while in England, the postcard is actually quite sweet, though notably lacking in Satanic or hard-rock content. “The plane trip was quite smooth and fast. My only problem so far has been the food but I’m managing. Well I’ll be home soon so see you then. Love, Ronnie.” (The ‘R’ in Ronnie has a slash through it, as if to denote a fallen crucifix, but that’s probably just wishful thinking.) (Est. $200-400)

 

METAL?

 

This Accursed Gnome

Ronnie James Dio's garden gnome. Image courtesy Julien's.

Ronnie James Dio’s garden gnome. Image courtesy Julien’s.

I mean, it’s an adorable garden gnome, so… not metal? And yet it does play a real role in Dio lore: The Holy Diver singer cut off his thumb while installing the gnome back in 2003. Is that hardcore enough for you? (Est. $200-300)


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