With 100% of the items sold and total income well above estimates, Sir Elton John’s private collection, auctioned by Christie’s, captured the hearts of buyers. From Rolex and Cartier watches to stage costumes and works of art, let’s take a look back at a highly successful auction.
On the evening of 21 February in New York, “The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road” was auctioned by Christie’s in a first session. Carefully selected by the singer himself, the line included 49 lots. While all the items found a new owner, the total sales reached precisely $20,537,842 million. In attendance were buyers who were fans of the artist, collectors of pop culture objects and investors at heart from 34 countries, 40% of them making their first purchase at Christie’s.
Rare and exceptional lots
The performer of Your Song, Rocket Man and I’m Still Standing, who has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a knighthood, and has sold 300 million records, continues to galvanise audiences. And this despite the fact that his career came to an end last year with a final concert.
With an aura that spans the globe and an impressive career that spans more than 50 years, Elton John shared a little of himself at the Christie’s auction. And the start of the event set the tone. The first four lots, iconic pieces of the singer’s eccentric style, exceeded their estimates. Among them was a pair of 1971 platform boots in silver leather adorned with the letters E and J in red leather, which sold for $94,500 against an initial estimate of between $5,000 and $10,000. A pair of Sir Winston Eyeware sunglasses, dating from 1975, sold for almost $23,000, 11 times the low estimate.
Three wristwatches were presented. The original Rolex Daytona with a leopard-print dial sold for over $176,000, a record for this model. The ‘Crash’ timepiece, a Cartier limited edition, fetched over $277,000, compared with Christie’s high estimate of $100,000. Finally, the Tank Normale, also by Cartier, fetched more than $176,000.
On the jewellery side, the collection included a sapphire and diamond necklace depicting the planet Earth (sold for $32,760), a heart-shaped Cartier sapphire ring ($132,300) and a diamond necklace ($32,760).
A 1990 Bentley Continental two-door convertible sold for no less than $441,000, against an initial estimate of between $25,000 and $35,000. A Yamaha piano fetched over $201,000. A pinball machine, a Medusa Red dinner service by Versace and a set of three hand-painted armchairs dating from the 19th century were also part of the collection.
Elton John also selected a number of works of art for the sale. Photographs by Helmut Newton, enamel on wood by Keith Haring, “Dovima with elephants” by Richard Avedon… The auction reflected the artist’s love of all art forms.
But the most prestigious lot was none other than Banksy’s “Flower Thrower Triptych”. Estimated at between $1 million and $1.5 million, the piece ended up fetching $1.9 million, making it the most expensive item in the sale.
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Featured photo : © Christie’s
