Over 200 thousand dollars for the grand piano, almost two million for the Banksy triptych: Elton John's memorabilia brought in almost 8 million dollars during an auction at Christie's in New York, the first of a series dedicated to the artist.
Inside the Rockefeller Center, headquarters of the Manhattan company, the silver boots marked with an E and a J worn during the concerts were also sold for 94,500 dollars - they were estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 dollars - while a pair of glasses, emblematic of the look of the British singer, found a buyer for 22,680 dollars, ten times more than the announced estimate.
During eight physical or online sales until February 28, collectors will also be able to treat themselves, among hundreds of lots, to the concert clothes of the legendary pianist, who said farewell to the stage in 2023. Most of the items come from the artist's luxurious residence in Atlanta , recently sold.
The collection includes works by artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Richard Avedon.
The musician, known for his hits "Your Song", "RocketMan", "I'm Still Standing", "Sacrifice", his flamboyant costumes and his commitment to the fight against AIDS, had made the capital of the State of Georgia, in the southern United States, the base of his American tours.
A choice dictated by "personal reasons", explains Christie's in a statement.
Elton John has long struggled with alcohol and drug addiction and "after getting sober in 1990, he found comfort and support in this warm community and in the city's drug treatment centers, such as the Triangle Club, which played a vital role in its recovery", recalls the auction house.
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