Elizabeth Taylor's Jewelry To Be Auctioned By Christie's

Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection will indeed by auctioned by Christie's, the Associated Press reports:

Christie's auction house says it has reached an agreement with Elizabeth Taylor's family to sell her prized jewelry collection, as well as some of her art, clothing and other memorabilia.

Christie's says it is planning a series of auctions that will be announced later this spring.

Last month, People speculated that Taylor's accessories might hit the block.

Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills President/CEO Peter Sedghi told the magazine, "She had a collection like I've never seen before, and she knew exactly what every one was -- what the diamonds were, the quality. But it was more for her; it was...the history behind it. A lot of them had sentimental value." And celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz recalled once speaking to Liz in 2003 after she had taken a fall: "[Taylor] was like, 'I don't feel good, my hair is dirty but I'm wearing my bracelet...I mean, fabulous.'"

Taylor's entire stash is valued at $150 million. Watch the late icon talk about her love for all-things-bling here.

Comments

[espressobeans]

03:07 PM on 04/15/2011

I should start buying lottery tickets now. I don't need much, just one bracelet . . .

[Jced]

01:48 PM on 04/12/2011

I hate to see her collection dispersed but my birthstone is Diamond and I'd buy one of Miss Taylor's if I could...a nice pair of earrings!!!

[Village]

09:44 PM on 04/11/2011

I mean $150,000,000.

[Village]

09:43 PM on 04/11/2011

$150,000 is a joke. It will probably go closer to a billion.

[Lynnybb]

11:45 AM on 04/11/2011

I certainly hope there is a catalogue of the items (with their history) available for purchase by those of us who can never own them. I would love a book with photos of all her jewels.

[Jazmo]

09:54 PM on 04/12/2011

There is a coffee table book but I don't know how complete the book is:
http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Taylor-Love-Affair-Jewelry/dp/B000C4SO5C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302659603&sr=8-1

I bought it in the bargain bin at B&N. It's pretty amazing.

[endymian]

08:20 AM on 04/11/2011

the cache here wont be the history of the pieces, other than that the most sensational history will be that the provenance is now sadly ex-collection elizabeth taylor. as with the hepburn, kennedy and duchess of york estate sales, the celebrity was so high and positive, that prices soared from big money who want to own a piece of someone else's huge celebrity status.

and while the duchess had some nice jewels, they were modest compared to the quailiy and rarity of elizabeth taylor's pieces, and most of what the kennedy and hepburn estates offered, had no innate monetary value, aside from ex-collection factor.

i expect elizabeth taylor's sale will outperform any previous non-art estate sale, because the celebrity is greater--yes elizabeth taylor is a much more enduring celebrity than mrs. kennedy was--and there is jewelry of astounding rarity and quality.

auction houses give estimates in a low/high range
that is kept somewhat conservative, so as not to put off perspective buyers who can always be counted on to succumb to higher bids, knowing the auction game of conservative estimates, and because of auction fever and to help insure that failed lots are kept to as a low a percentage of total auction results. to insure the sales performance looks as good as possible!

all this being said, i would expect huge numbers for elizabeth taylor's sale!

[GraceNotes]

05:09 PM on 04/12/2011

Didn't Elizabeth actually own a brooch once owned by Wallis Simpson?

[endymian]

06:25 AM on 04/21/2011

i haven't researched this, but off the top of my head, i recall that a famous windsor crested broach that edward had made for wallace, almost as a dig at his family for slighting his duchess by refusing to let her have the style of HRH, was purchased by prince charles for diana, who is said to have been smitten with the idea of owning it.

[Samiiam]

03:32 AM on 04/11/2011

This sale is kind of quick, I think. She just passed and some of us are still getting over the loss of our last great movie star. Well, money is money.

[Godiva]

10:03 PM on 04/12/2011

I agree. I've enjoyed the movie marathons the last couple of weekends.

[kat momma]

03:10 AM on 04/11/2011

There are women who delight in receiving jewelry from their lovers, and Elizabeth Taylor was one of those women. I recall the gifts to her from Richard Burton, so extravagant. Miss Taylor did not lock up her gems for safekeeping; she wore them often. I feel cofidant that this auction at Christies will serve to embellish her memory. She is gone now, but she will never be forgotten.

[GrownupStewie]

02:55 AM on 04/11/2011

this will be the celebrity jewelry auction of the decade, i don't think any other icon could match her jewels...

I would love to go to the auction, I wish I was the smithsonian so i could buy all of her jewels and set up a her own permanent exhibit...she deserves it, not only as one of the most beautiful woman in americas history, but as one of its greatest actresses, charitable contributors and icons....everything about her is museum quality

[beadingchef]

01:45 AM on 04/11/2011

I would love to attend that auction. As an artist who has designed jewelry myself for years I can truly appreciate her collection. She has raised money for AIDS in the past selling her gems and i am sure will once again from beyond the pale. She was a gifted and talented woman, and the last of the true Hollywood stars.

[JediGoddess]

01:22 AM on 04/11/2011

Sounds like her family has a few debts to cover... However it is Liz by the way I'm sure she had every jewel imaginable. I would love to roam in her closet and jewelry just for 1 hour OMG!

[GrownupStewie]

02:57 AM on 04/11/2011

she was worth 1 billion when she died...she had no debts, she was a smart and shrewd business woman, trust me, they are selling her jewelry for charity as it is looking like each of her children will receive at least 100 million from her will, and the hundreds of millions that will go to charity...

[mssreader]

02:34 PM on 04/11/2011

Jedi, I suspect that none of the family want all these jewels and the cost of insurance alone would be staggering. Where would most people wear these fabulous jewels today? I'm sure the disposal of her art etc was surely covered in her will.

[philliseh zeonis]

01:12 AM on 04/11/2011

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[CubanVoice]

07:50 PM on 04/10/2011

I like jewelry as much as anyone, but not overly ,uch. BUT, this is one collection I'd love a piece of! Ah, perchance to dream...

[sadman2]

03:55 PM on 04/10/2011

Trinklets with shiny price
Humans are the toddlers of the universe, they love sparkles

[ponderingmuch]

08:37 PM on 04/10/2011

Elizabeth Taylor, shiny tickets or not, or not, did amazing work in support of AIDS awareness, research and services.

The money raised at these auctions will further that support.

[amantedelibros]

03:44 PM on 04/10/2011

Just a stunning woman in every sense of the word. BTW, TCM is paying tribute to her all day with some of her more memorable movies.