Her
love of jewelry was legendary. To imagine Elizabeth Taylor without her
rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces is unthinkable. More than
just having a soft spot for luxury though, the actress was a true
jewelry connoisseur.
No wonder then that her collection consisted of only the finest and most interesting pieces the world had to offer. Jewelry from the private collection of the recently deceased actress valued at dozens of millions of US dollars will be auctioned off at Christie's New York auction house in December.
The spectacle that awaits visitors is truly breathtaking: pieces from Bvlgari, Boucheron, Cartier, JAR, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and many others will be on display. A total of 269 jewelry pieces with a total value of nearly 30 million dollars will come under the hammer, including a 33.19 carat diamond ring that Richard Burton gave the diva in 1968. The value of this ring alone is estimated at between 3.5 and 5 million dollars.
Richard Burton often showed his affection by gifting jewelry. A collection with a chain, ring, pendant, brooch, and armband consists of emeralds and Bvlgari diamonds dating from between 1958 and 1963. The most modestly priced piece is valued at around 300 000 dollars, the most expensive at 1.5 million.
A long diamond and sapphire Bvgari necklace that Richard Burton gave Taylor in 1972 for her 40th birthday, and a pair of JAR ear clips made with diamonds and multicolored sapphires will also be going to auction. Highlights of the estate include the 1935 "Prince of Wales" brooch from the Windsor Herzogin collection that Elizabeth Taylor bought in 1987 at Sotheby's in Geneva, and "The Night of the Iguana", a brooch made from diamonds and other precious stones. The latter was created by Jean Schlumberger at Tiffany & Co. and was presented to Taylor by Richard Burton for the premiere of "Night of the Iguana".
Richard Burton never failed to find a reason to give his wife presents. When she became a grandmother he presented her with "The Granny Suite", a diamond chain and earrings set created by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1970/71.
Taylor fans and jewelry lovers alike will certainly discover many other favorite pieces – charm bracelets, the wedding rings that Taylor and Burton wore in 1964 and 1975, or a turquoise mirror made by Bvlgari in 1962 for the film "Cleopatra".
Even dresses will be auctioned off, among them a white Chanel ball gown with cape, shoes and a clutch from the 60s, a sunflower yellow silk wedding dress made by Irene Sharaff that Elizabeth Taylor wore at her 1964 marriage to Richard Burton, a Thea Potter caftan, a pearl encrusted Versace evening jacket, a red Valentino ball gown, and a 1980s fringed Halston jacket. Many of the items are famous from photos showing Elizabeth Taylor wearing them, making them even more valuable for the fans and jewelry collectors.
Exhibition: Christie’s Paris (16/17 November), Hong Kong Convention Center (24.-27. Nov.), Christie’s New York (3-12 December ). Auction: 13-16. December, www.christies.com/elizabethtaylorviews.
On the 25th of Jan. (New York, Rockefeller Center) and the 7/8 February (London, King Street) paintings from Elizabeth Taylor's collection will also be on sale.
No wonder then that her collection consisted of only the finest and most interesting pieces the world had to offer. Jewelry from the private collection of the recently deceased actress valued at dozens of millions of US dollars will be auctioned off at Christie's New York auction house in December.
Jewelry exhibition on tour
Before it goes to auction, the collection is taking a tour around the world, giving jewelry lovers a chance to see it firsthand. Having already appeared in Moscow, London, Dubai and in Geneva, the stops are still planned for Paris, and Hongkong...
The spectacle that awaits visitors is truly breathtaking: pieces from Bvlgari, Boucheron, Cartier, JAR, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and many others will be on display. A total of 269 jewelry pieces with a total value of nearly 30 million dollars will come under the hammer, including a 33.19 carat diamond ring that Richard Burton gave the diva in 1968. The value of this ring alone is estimated at between 3.5 and 5 million dollars.
Jewelry with history
Many of the pieces have a colorful history. "The Ping-Pong Diamond", for example consists of a group of three diamond rings that Burton gave his wife in 1970 after she won a ping-pong game. The slender rings are estimated at a value of 5-7 thousand dollars.
Richard Burton often showed his affection by gifting jewelry. A collection with a chain, ring, pendant, brooch, and armband consists of emeralds and Bvlgari diamonds dating from between 1958 and 1963. The most modestly priced piece is valued at around 300 000 dollars, the most expensive at 1.5 million.
Cartier Collection
There is also a Cartier collection consisting of chain, armband, and earrings. Elizabeth Taylor received them in 1957 from her husband at the time, film producer Mike Todd. The pieces are valued at somewhere between $120,000 and $300,000. An 8.24 carat Van Cleef & Arpels ring set with rubies and diamonds that Richard Burton gave the diva for christmas in 1968 is estimated at a value of 1.5 million dollars.
A long diamond and sapphire Bvgari necklace that Richard Burton gave Taylor in 1972 for her 40th birthday, and a pair of JAR ear clips made with diamonds and multicolored sapphires will also be going to auction. Highlights of the estate include the 1935 "Prince of Wales" brooch from the Windsor Herzogin collection that Elizabeth Taylor bought in 1987 at Sotheby's in Geneva, and "The Night of the Iguana", a brooch made from diamonds and other precious stones. The latter was created by Jean Schlumberger at Tiffany & Co. and was presented to Taylor by Richard Burton for the premiere of "Night of the Iguana".
Diamond tiara
Other interesting pieces include a pair of Cartier earrings that the actress helped design, given to her by her husband Larry Fortensky in 1991 as a wedding gift. "The Mike Todd Diamond Necklace", created in 1900, was a gift from the same to Taylor in 1957. Amongst the most beautiful pieces are the legendary Cartier-Collier Peregrina Perl, another piece that the actress helped to design, and a diamond tiara from 1880 - also a given by Mike Todd. Noteworthy is a Bvlgari snake-shaped bracelet watch with emerald eyes.
Richard Burton's affection
Richard Burton never failed to find a reason to give his wife presents. When she became a grandmother he presented her with "The Granny Suite", a diamond chain and earrings set created by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1970/71.
Taylor fans and jewelry lovers alike will certainly discover many other favorite pieces – charm bracelets, the wedding rings that Taylor and Burton wore in 1964 and 1975, or a turquoise mirror made by Bvlgari in 1962 for the film "Cleopatra".
Evening dresses
Even dresses will be auctioned off, among them a white Chanel ball gown with cape, shoes and a clutch from the 60s, a sunflower yellow silk wedding dress made by Irene Sharaff that Elizabeth Taylor wore at her 1964 marriage to Richard Burton, a Thea Potter caftan, a pearl encrusted Versace evening jacket, a red Valentino ball gown, and a 1980s fringed Halston jacket. Many of the items are famous from photos showing Elizabeth Taylor wearing them, making them even more valuable for the fans and jewelry collectors.
Exhibition: Christie’s Paris (16/17 November), Hong Kong Convention Center (24.-27. Nov.), Christie’s New York (3-12 December ). Auction: 13-16. December, www.christies.com/elizabethtaylorviews.
On the 25th of Jan. (New York, Rockefeller Center) and the 7/8 February (London, King Street) paintings from Elizabeth Taylor's collection will also be on sale.
No comments:
Post a Comment