NEW YORK.- Christie’s announced the sale of Photographs from the Collection of Sir Elton John, to take place at Christie’s Rockefeller Center on October 14. A select group of over 100 photographs from Sir Elton John’s prestigious collection will be offered during an 80-lot gala evening sale. Sir Elton John began collecting photographs in 1991. His collection is now regarded as one of the leading private photography collections in the world, distinguished by its exceptional quality and remarkable range and depth. From major vintage 20th century modernist works to cutting-edge contemporary images, the collection now holds over 4,000 fine art photographs. After a survey of his collection last year, Sir Elton John decided to continue to diversify the collection and sell a number of carefully-selected photographs in areas where he has an abundance of work in the same genre.
Josh Holdeman, International Director and Head of the Photographs Department, says, “Christie’s is honored and delighted to have been entrusted with the responsibility of placing these 100 photographs into new homes. A periodic assessment of any collection is a productive and necessary exercise. The sale of certain acquisitions from time to time often proves a very useful endeavor, ensuring the collection’s continued integrity.”
The auction will be thematically constructed and will reflect the several areas in which Sir Elton John has focused his collecting activities, including still lives, portraits and fashion photography. A unique opportunity for collectors around the world, the photographs are also presented with The Sir Elton John Photography Collection label with full description and provenance information. Highlights include a vintage print by Edward Steichen from the collection of Joanna Steichen (estimate: $6,000-8,000); Ansel Adams’ Tetons and Snake River (estimate: $35,000-45,000), a vintage print by the sculptor Constantine Brancusi (estimate: $10,000-15,000) and contemporary color works by Richard Caldicott, Adam Fuss and Sandy Skoglund.
A selection of works by Horst P. Horst, Robert Mapplethorpe, Duane Michals, Irving Penn, Michael Kenna and John Dugdale is also featured, alongside modern prints by Berenice Abbott, Andrea Kertesz, and O. Winston Link. For the Sir Elton John enthusiast, there are two early prints of Sir Elton John by the well-known English fashion photographer Norman Parkinson.
