December 14, 2011
Auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry sets record
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A phone bidder signals her bid near an image of Elizabeth Taylor during an auction of the late actress' jewelry, clothing, art and memorabilia at Christie's Auction house in New York on Dec. 13. Photo by REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry set a record for a single collection sold at auction.
The jewelry was sold Tuesday night at Christie’s auction house for nearly $116 million. Most of the 80 lots sold for at least 10 times the catalog estimates, according to The New York Times.
The sale more than doubled the previous record for a private jewelry collection sold at auction, the newspaper reported.
A 50-carat pearl given to Taylor by husband Richard Burton sold for nearly $12 million. And a 33-carat diamond ring from Burton, rated potentially flawless, sold for nearly $9 million.
Clothing, memorabilia and more jewelry owned by Taylor will be on sale through Friday. Part of the proceeds will go to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, as well as Taylor’s private trust.
The Academy Award-winning actress converted to Judaism in the late 1950s and was a supporter of Israel.
