Elton John clears out his London house

Out pop star Elton John is doing a bit of house-clearing by putting paintings, chandeliers, and leopard-skin-print sofas up for sale later this month, auction house Sotheby's said Friday. Sotheby's said more than 400 items from John's West London house were likely to raise more than $1.3 million when they are sold September 30. Items up for sale include a double bed with matching wardrobes designed by David Linley, nephew of Queen Elizabeth; a bronze sculpture of Alexander the Great; a gilt-bronze and marble chandelier; and two busts of Napoleon. John also is selling sculptures and paintings from his extensive art collection, including 17th-century artist Edward Bowker's Portrait of a Lady With her Son, valued at $32,000-$48,000. John, who also has a country home in Windsor, west of London, said he was selling the items so he could redecorate in a more modern style. "I wanted to have the opportunity to display more contemporary work in one of my U.K. homes, but as my house in Windsor has a very traditional style, the obvious choice was to remodel my Holland Park home," he said.