Spectacles
late 1970s (designed)
late 1970s (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Elton John is one of popular music's most famed wearer of spectacles. Having started his career performing in pubs from the age of 15, he worked his way up the music industry ladder by playing in bands with his friends, eventually becoming a staff songwriter for DJM Records. On gaining a record contract in 1970, at the age of 23, his live performance became bigger and more flamboyant. Backed by a large catalogue of ballads and piano rock, his scintillating stage shows involved him performing in wild costumes, for which he commissioned spectacles to match.
This pair of sunglasses, with red and white plastic asymmetrical frames, decorated with an arrow picked out in white diamanté studs, were designed for French designer spectacle house Mikli. Mikli began in 1978 and continue to this day, creating handmade glasses and accessories that are popular with celebrities worldwide.
This pair of sunglasses, with red and white plastic asymmetrical frames, decorated with an arrow picked out in white diamanté studs, were designed for French designer spectacle house Mikli. Mikli began in 1978 and continue to this day, creating handmade glasses and accessories that are popular with celebrities worldwide.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Sunglasses worn by Elton John on 1981/2 British and World tours, made Mikli, France, ca.1970s. Red asymetrical frames with diamante studs. |
| Physical description | Red and white plastic asymmetrical frames with metal hinges. Decorated with an arrow picked out in white diamante studs. Matching asymmetrical grey-tinted plastic prescription lenses. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Elton John |
| Summary | Elton John is one of popular music's most famed wearer of spectacles. Having started his career performing in pubs from the age of 15, he worked his way up the music industry ladder by playing in bands with his friends, eventually becoming a staff songwriter for DJM Records. On gaining a record contract in 1970, at the age of 23, his live performance became bigger and more flamboyant. Backed by a large catalogue of ballads and piano rock, his scintillating stage shows involved him performing in wild costumes, for which he commissioned spectacles to match. This pair of sunglasses, with red and white plastic asymmetrical frames, decorated with an arrow picked out in white diamanté studs, were designed for French designer spectacle house Mikli. Mikli began in 1978 and continue to this day, creating handmade glasses and accessories that are popular with celebrities worldwide. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.530:1, 2-1989 |
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| Record created | January 22, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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