The Styrous® Viewfinder: Elton John ~ Chorus of Light

February 18, 2024

Elton John ~ Chorus of Light

Elton John ~ Chorus of Light - 2000

detail photo by Styrous®

Today I got a notice from Barneby's Auction Gallery that Christie's Auction House is auctioning off $10 million worth of artworks, clothing and photographs from the former home in Atlanta, Georgia, that was owned by Elton John. It prompted me to dig into my photographic book collection and find the book I have of his photography collection; I hadn't looked at it in years and once again I was amazed by the great classics of photography he had.

From Barneby's Auction Gallery:

Farewell – Yellow Brick Road was the name of the Elton John three-year farewell tour, which ended in Stockholm in July 2023 and was one of the most successful concert series in history with sales of over $800 million. Another farewell followed soon after, as Sir Elton parted ways with his Atlanta, Georgia home, an impressive penthouse on Peachtree Road. The apartment, owned by the musician since 1992, changed hands for $7.2 million.

"Goodbye Peachtree Road" is now the title of the auction series in which Christie's New York will be auctioning off a variety of works of art and personal objects from the Atlanta home of Elton John and his husband David Furnish this month.

Terry O'Neill (1938-2019), Elton John Performing a Handstand, 1972, gelatin silver print, 45 x 55.8 cm. Photo © Christie's.

The 924 lots will go under the hammer in a total of nine auctions. The Evening Sale on February 21 is followed by the Day Sale on February 22 and 23 in two sessions. Bidding is already open for the lots from the online auctions, which end on February 27 and 28.
The highlights of the auction include a black concert grand piano on which Elton John composed many a hit . . .

Concert grand piano, model C6F PE, Yamaha Corporation, Hamamatsu, Japan, circa 1992. Photo © Christie.

. . . iconic stage outfits from his decades-long career as a gifted live performer, exclusive Versace shirts and sofas covered with the Italian fashion house's fabrics, as well as some very personal artworks by artists such as Julian Schnabel and Damien Hirst.

Pair of silver leather platform ankle boots worn for several performances, circa 1971. Photo © Christie's

A main focus will also be on the genre of photography. In fact, the music legend owns several thousand photographs, making his one of the most extensive private photo collections in the world.
Christie's shows the diverse interest with which Elton John collected photographs: a film still by Cindy Sherman can be found in the offer, as well as Robert Frank's socially critical photograph Charleston, South Carolina, 1955. Otherwise, the focus is on glamour, stars and eroticism, captured - mostly in black and white - by the biggest names in the industry, including Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Horst P. Horst, Herb Ritts and Robert Mapplethorpe.

Richard Avedon (1923-2004), Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent, Los Angeles, California, June 14, 1981, gelatin silver print 78/200, 82.8 x 124.1 cm. Photo © Christie's

The exhibition "The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road" is on view at Christie's in Rockefeller Plaza, New York until February 21.

"It is a distinct privilege for Christie’s to partner with Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish in curating the forthcoming auction: ‘The Collection of Sir Elton John: Goodbye Peachtree Road,'" said Tash Perrin, Vice Chairman of Christie's Americas. "This extraordinary collection not only showcases a diverse array of remarkable objects that encapsulate 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. 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."