Home of the largest and most prestigious designer vintage eyewear archive in the world, Vintage Frames Company now holds one of the most iconic and valuable frames on the globe.
Last night, international superstar and sunglass aficionado, Sir Elton John, auctioned some of his most coveted pieces from his Atlanta Peachtree Road Estate in partnership with Christie’s, the world-renowned bespoke auctioneer and private client sales House, with all proceeds to benefit his namesake charity. On its opening night, the auction raised $7,960,900 USD for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Vintage Frames Company CEO & Founder, Corey Shapiro, was invited to Christie’s in New York City on February 21, 2024 to sit at the grand opening of the once-in-a-lifetime auction where a series of his most prized possessions were on display and available to bid on.
Of the assortment, one of Sir Elton John’s personal prescription sunglasses were available for bid. At an estimated $1,000 to $3,000 opening bid, the frames sold to Vintage Frames Company for more than 7 times the initial estimate at $22,680 USD, making these frames one of the most expensive frames to ever be sold at auction.
Arguably the most famous and celebrated man in optical, a pair of Sir Elton John’s personal frames is an invaluable asset to possess within the Vintage Frames Company Archive.
Made by his long term eyewear design partner Sir Winston Eyewear in 1975, these frames were famously worn by Sir Elton John at his London performance that year. The frames were designed in a classic white acetate and the prescription lenses were crafted with yellow X's against purple, pink, and orange base.
Shapiro sat down with the iconic eyewear designer, Sir Winston, in 2023 for an in depth interview, prior to the announcement of this iconic estate. You can watch the interview on Youtube here. The two went through more than 5 decades of eyewear designed for Sir Elton John, arguably the most famous and most iconic personality in the world let alone in the optical industry.
Vintage Frames Company boasts more than 1.5 million unique designer vintage eyewear pieces spanning across more than 7 decades of history. The brand’s ambition is to preserve the past while educating the future of eyewear.
ABOUT CHRISTIES:
Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with a physical presence in 46 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. Renowned and trusted for our expert live and online-only auctions, as well as bespoke Private Sales, Christie’s unparalleled network of specialists offers clients a full portfolio of global services, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education.
