Spectacles worn by Elton John
Spectacles
1980 (made)
1980 (made)
| 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 performances became bigger and more flamboyant. Backed by a large catalogue of ballads and piano rock, his scintillating stage shows featured extravagant costumes, for which he commissioned bespoke spectacles.
This pair, featuring blue-tinted prescription lenses, incorporate a semi-quaver musical notation shape into their gold plastic frames, emphasising John's love of music.
This pair, featuring blue-tinted prescription lenses, incorporate a semi-quaver musical notation shape into their gold plastic frames, emphasising John's love of music.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Spectacles worn by Elton John (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plastic, metal and diamanté |
| Brief description | Spectacles worn by Elton John on 1981/2 British and World tours, French, ca.1980. Semi-quaver frames with diamanté strips. |
| Physical description | Light gold plastic frames incorporating semi-quaver shape. Decorated with coloured diamanté studs. Blue-tinted plastic prescription lenses. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | FRAME FRANCE (On inside of right arm) |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by Elton John |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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 performances became bigger and more flamboyant. Backed by a large catalogue of ballads and piano rock, his scintillating stage shows featured extravagant costumes, for which he commissioned bespoke spectacles. This pair, featuring blue-tinted prescription lenses, incorporate a semi-quaver musical notation shape into their gold plastic frames, emphasising John's love of music. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.532:1, 2-1989 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 22, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
