British musician and six-time Grammy winner Sir Elton John is collaborating with Christie’s New York to auction off around 900 items from his personal collection. The auction, titled “The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road,” marks his departure from his 1,254-m2 (13,500-sf) condominium in Atlanta.
In speaking to The Wall Street Journal, John admitted, “I’m afraid I’m not a minimalist. It was a bit of a nightmare to clean and a bit of a nightmare to know where everything was.” When discussing his apartment in Atlanta, he explains, “It was my man cave full of things I just loved, mementos from everywhere in the world, and things that I got up every day and they all gave me inspiration.”
The auction will be divided into a mix of eight live and online sales. The first in-person sale is scheduled for the evening of Feb. 21, while the online auctions are allowing bids between Feb. 9 and Feb. 28.
Amongst the many items to be featured—including an original Banksy artwork valued at US$1 to 1.5 million (C$1.4 to 2 million), ’70s photos of John, a Versace couch, touring costumes, and a Yamaha Conservatory grand piano—is John’s Cartier “Crash” watch. The leading item in the jewellery and watch lots, this 18-karat timepiece, crafted in 1991, is one of only 400 ever produced. It is estimated to be worth approximately US$70,000 to 100,000 (C$94,000 to 135,000).
Other jewellery items featured in the auction include a diamond-encrusted pendant bearing the words, “The Bitch is Back,” after the 1974 song John co-wrote with Bernie Taupin. The pendant is expected to sell for US$40,000 (C$54,000). According to National Jeweler, the opening night sale will also feature an 18-karat yellow gold Cartier ring set with a mixed-cut, heart-shaped Ceylon sapphire and an “exuberant and rare,” leopard-print Rolex Daytona.
The online action, “The Jewel Box,” will feature other significant watches and jewellery from John’s collection—including pieces from Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, Roger Dubuis, Chopard, Franck Muller, Hublot, Oscar Heyman, Loree Rodkin, Munsteiner, Dinh Van, Stephen Webster, and Theo Fennell.
Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries will also open an exhibition of certain items from the collection. They hope the free exhibition will offer the public a unique window into the famed musician’s life.
“We take immense pride in presenting this multi-category sale, featuring a refined assortment of photographs, artworks, fashion, and costumes—a testament to a man’s eclectic vision, artistry, and impeccable taste,” says Tasha Perrin, deputy chair of Christie’s Americas.
The public is welcome to view the exhibition at Christie’s, at 20 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, between Feb. 9 and 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
