Property belonging to Elton John will go under the hammer in a series of landmark sales at Christie’s Rockefeller Centre in New York, which are expected to fetch as much as $10 million (€9.2 million).
He has come a long way since he played support to Long John Baldry at Limerick’s Stella Ballroom in the 1960s – when he was still known as Reg Dwight – having a pint of Guinness in Tom Collins’s pub in the city.
Today, Elton John, who has sold more than 300 million albums worldwide, and has estimated net worth of $550 million, is deemed to be the fourth-best-selling musical artist in modern history. He has won just about every music award known to man, and his song Candle in the Wind – which he rewrote and performed at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997 – is listed in the top 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone.
Now he’s selling off the contents of his Atlanta, Georgia home. The eight sales, both live and online, and commencing February 21st, represent “a turning point in the celebrated singer’s personal journey and offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a piece of its rich history”, according to Christie’s.
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In 1992 the singer purchased a condominium at Park Place on Peachtree Road in Atlanta, a place he used as a hub while touring the United States. According to catalogue notes, “the city of Atlanta played a crucial role” in his life. Since he got sober in 1990, the home became a place where “he found solace and support in the warm community, and recovery facilities in the city, such as the Triangle Club, which played a critical part in his recovery”. The recent sale of the 13,000sq ft residence achieved $7.2 million (€6.6 million), so John and his husband, David Furnish, are now consolidating their collections.
The 76-year-old musician – knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to both philanthropy and music – and Furnish, who wed in December 2014, have placed a considerable portion of their furniture, art and memorabilia from their Atlanta home on the market.
“This extraordinary collection not only showcases a diverse array of remarkable objects that encapsulates Elton’s unique life, work and art, but also provides our clients with a glimpse into the profound impact that the city of Atlanta had on him,” says Tash Perrin, deputy chairman of Christie’s Americas.
The renowned musician, acclaimed for his piano prowess, flamboyant style and captivating performances, is also a notable art collector, and the sale lists works by Andy Warhol, Helmut Newton, Damien Hirst, Robert Mapplethorpe and Richard Avedon.
Included is Your Song by Damien Hirst, signed and inscribed “XXX for Elton & David, Love Damien, Thank You”, which is expected to achieve $350,000-$450,000 (€321,000-€413,165). Julian Schnabel’s portrait of the singer is listed at $300,000 (€276,000), while a 2017 Banksy triptych of a masked man throwing a bunch of flowers is expected to attain about $1.5 million.
Along with a 1990 Bentley Continental, there is an entire sale dedicated to his love of designs by the late Gianni Versace, who was a close friend. John dedicated his 1997 album The Big Picture to Versace – one of the first designers to link fashion and the world of music – after his murder that same year. As testament to the singer’s eclectic tastes, his Atlanta home featured elaborate Versace upholstery, and the sale lists a selection of vintage brightly coloured signature Gianni Versace shirts ($4,000-$6,000).
Also featured is a selection of fashion pieces from John’s stage wardrobe, including “a noteworthy ivory and gold ensemble designed by Annie Reavey from 1971″ which, according to Christie’s, “holds historical significance as one of the initial set of stage attire crafted exclusively for the singer”.
Terry O’Neill’s Elton John album cover photograph from 1974 ($6,000-$8,000) is also listed, depicting the singer, who began his musical journey earning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music aged just 11.
Included in the 900 items, which are expected to achieve about $10 million, is John’s Yamaha Conservatory grand piano on which he wrote the hit Broadway shows Billy Elliot and Aida. It is listed at $50,000 but may well achieve more, given the astronomical sums achieved at Sotheby’s Freddy Mercury sale last year. Sales at this auction achieved more than $50 million – his crown and cloak sold for $794,000 – which was almost 10 times the auction estimate.
Highlights of the musician’s jewellery collection are an 18k gold limited edition Cartier symmetrical wristwatch, with “crash” deployant ($70,000-$100,000) and a diamond “The Bitch is Back” pendant necklace ($20,000-$40,000).
If there’s one lot in the sale that shrieks of the Rocket Man singer, it’s his iconic silver leather platform boots, with the letters E and J on the sides and red and white stripes. They were worn by him at numerous performances during the 1970s ($5,000-$10,000). christies.com
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