Elton John Tiffany Lamp Lights Up Mctear’s Design Auction

A spectacular Tiffany lamp once owned by global music icon Sir Elton John is estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000 when it goes under the hammer at McTear’s Auctioneers in Glasgow on 7th May.

Dating from 1899 to 1920, the lamp formed part of the legendary Sotheby’s sale in 1988, which saw around 2,000 of the Rocketman’s personal items go to auction following an exhibition at London’s V&A Museum.

Other items in the Sotheby’s sale included spectacles, flamboyant boots and a pinball machine from the rock opera, Tommy. A copy of the original sale catalogue will accompany the Tiffany lamp in the McTear’s auction.

Bearing the prestigious mark of Tiffany Studios New York, the ‘Poinsettia’ lamp boasts a kaleidoscope of leaded glass in pinks, blues, greens and milky white. Its rare spherical bronze base, adorned with overlapping leaves, offers a striking departure from the more familiar column design.

The current vendor’s family acquired the lamp at the landmark Sotheby’s auction, and it has remained a treasured centrepiece in their home ever since.

Commenting on the auction, McTear’s director, Magda Ketterer, said: "The lamp is an extraordinary piece of decorative art, but its connection to one of the world’s most celebrated performers gives it a rare cultural cachet.  Whether you're a collector, a design enthusiast, or an Elton John fan, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity."

The Tiffany lamp will headline McTear’s 19th & 20th Century Design Auction on Wednesday 7th May.  A celebration of design icons from the past two centuries, other notable lots include a mid-century Val Rossi sideboard for Beithcraft, and standout works from Elio Martinelli, Liberty & Co, Vitsoe, Hans Bech, and WMF. The sale also features exceptional pieces from the Glasgow Arts & Crafts, Secessionist, Aesthetic, Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements.