The rock icon’s personal belongings brought in about $8 million at auction on Wednesday in New York, with nearly $100,000 going to the buyer of his monogrammed silver boots and around $2 million going to a triptych by graffiti artist Banksy from his collection.
Through February 28, Christie’s auction house will hold eight in-person and online sales for the 76-year-old’s collection of possessions. One of the items up for auction is an ivory and gold glam rock jumpsuit from Annie Reavey that sold for $12,600 in the early 1970s.
John’s grand piano brought in over $200,000 as eager bidders placed their offers, and a pair of sunglasses—a crucial component of the singer’s iconic look—sold for $22,680, ten times the asking price.
The majority of the pieces are from the artist’s recently sold opulent Atlanta, Georgia mansion, which he had used as a base for his American tours.
The iconic performer, who is well-known for hits like “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” and “Sacrifice,” as well as for his colorful outfits and dedication to the HIV/AIDS movement, completed his final tour last year.
According to Christie’s, John purchased the Atlanta house not long after he entered sobriety in 1990 because he found “solace and support in the warm community and recovery facilities” there.
The collection he and his husband David Furnish built, which includes pieces by artists such as Richard Avedon, Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Keith Haring, demonstrates the couple’s taste in modern art.
