The one-of-a-kind Purple Heart Cire Perdue designed and created by Elton John and LALIQUE raised $80,000 USD.
The auction took place at the Foundation's March 4 Academy Awards Viewing Party auction in Los Angeles with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), a leader in the global effort to end AIDS. All proceeds from the auction will benefit EJAF's lifesaving work.
This exceptional sculpture is a heart form that was chosen because it is a universal symbol of love and the color purple signifies spirituality and emotion versus materialism, the same core values expressed by the ELTON JOHN MUSIC IS LOVE collection.
attends the 26th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by Bulgari, celebrating EJAF and the 90th Academy Awards at The City of West Hollywood Park on March 4, 2018 in West Hollywood, California.
"The heart is inspired by the Tourbillons motif, an iconic and recognizable LALIQUE design, and includes a clef symbol that embodies the name of the collaboration, ELTON JOHN MUSIC IS LOVE," says Marc Larminaux, Artist & Creative Director of LALIQUE.
The piece was auctioned off by Paddle8 co-founder Alexander Gilkes who served as live auctioneer at the Oscar-night event. The Purple Heart Cire Perdue generated tremendous interest from bidders who were enticed by the opportunity to own this one-of-a-kind crystal artwork as well as help benefit EJAF.
The ELTON JOHN MUSIC IS LOVE collection is collaboration between EJAF and LALIQUE that was initially conceived in 2015 and debuted seven exceptional pieces. Four of these were one-of-a-kind crystal art pieces designed and created by Elton John and LALIQUE that raised $410,000 at the Academy Awards Viewing Party auction in Los Angeles in 2016 with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
This collaboration is the culmination of years of research and design, combining the creative expertise of both Elton John and LALIQUE's master craftsmen.
worldwide ($1,800), the red crystal heart, limited to 499 worldwide ($1,800), and the clear crystal heart, limited to 999 worldwide ($1,200) are currently available for purchase at LALIQUE boutiques nationwide and select retailers with 10% of the proceeds benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation.