BONHAMS TO SELL ART DECO STATUETTE ONCE OWNED BY ELTON JOHN

A STUNNING AND PROVOCATIVE ART DECO STATUETTE, 'THE CIGARETTE GIRL', ESTIMATED AT £20,000 – 30,000, ONCE OWNED BY ELTON JOHN IS COMING UP FOR AUCTION AT BONHAMS 'DEIGN FROM 1680' SALE ON 16.JUNE. DURING THE 1970s, THE SINGER AMASSED A HIGH QUALITY ART DECO COLLECTION, SPARKING A FASHION AMONG THE RICH AND FAMOUS FOR WORKS OF THIS PROLIFIC PERIOD OF DESIGN. MUCH OF JOHN'S ART DECO COLLECTION WAS DISPERSED AT AUCTION IN 1988. THE BRONZE AND IVORY FIGURE SHOWS A SELF CONFIDENT YOUNG WOMAN, ARMS CROSSED, POSING PLAYFULLY AND PROVOCATIVELY WITH A CIGARETTE. DRESSED IN A REMARKABLY MODERN WAY FOR A WOMAN OF THE TIME (HER LEATHER JACKET AND TIGHT FITTING TROUSERS. LATER KNOWN AS CIGARETTE TROUSERS, BRING TO MIND THE LOOKS OF GARBO AND DIETRICH). THE CIGARETTE GIRL IS TE WORK OF MASTER SCULPTOR BRONO ZACH. ZACH SPECIALIZED IN PORTRAYALS OF WOMEN IN FLIRTATIOUS POSES AND HIS WOK HAS STEADILY INCREASED IN VALUE IN RECENT YEARS. IN 2009, BONHAMS SOLD HIS 'THE RIDING CROP' FOR A WORLD RECORD PRICE OF £60,000.