Elton John’s personal items, including his monogrammed silver boots and a triptych by street artist Banksy, fetched nearly $8 million at auction in New York on Wednesday.
Christie’s auction house is conducting a series of eight sales, both in person and online, until February 28, featuring items from the 76-year-old music icon’s collection. Among the highlights were the silver boots, which sold for nearly $100,000, and the Banksy triptych, which fetched around $2 million.
One of the standout pieces was an ivory and gold glam rock jumpsuit from the early 1970s designed by Annie Reavey, which sold for $12,600.
During the auction, enthusiastic collectors drove bids for Elton John’s grand piano, which sold for over $200,000. Additionally, a pair of sunglasses, a key element of the singer’s signature look, fetched $22,680, which was ten times more than the initial estimate.
Most of the items come from the artist’s luxury home in Atlanta, Georgia, which had served as a base for his American tours, and which he recently sold.
The legendary musician, known for hits like “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” and “Sacrifice,” for flamboyant costumes and a commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, wrapped up his farewell tour last year.
John purchased the Atlanta residence shortly after achieving sobriety in 1990, according to Christie’s, as he sought “comfort and support in the welcoming community and rehabilitation resources” available there.
Featuring pieces by artists like Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Richard Avedon, the collection, curated alongside his husband David Furnish, reflects the couple’s appreciation for contemporary art.
The personal collections of pop culture icons have become a common sight at the world’s leading auction houses.
In September last year, Sotheby’s announced the sale of thousands of items that once belonged to the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, fetching a total of 40 million pounds ($50.4 million).
