THERE ARE SECOND HAND BLING, OLD CLOTHES AND PAINTINGS AND THEN THERE ARE ITEMS OWNED BY ELIZABETH TAYLOR! WHEN YOU, A MERELY RICH OLD BAG, SELL YOUR CARTIERS AND VAN GOGHS, THEY ARE SOLD BASED ON THEIR MARKET VALUE AND THE FACT YOU OWN THEM DOES NOT CARRY WEIGHT NOR MEAN ANYTHING TO THE POTENTIAL BUYERS SINCE YOU ARE NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND NO ONE GIVES A DAMN ABOUT YOU.
BUT WHEN THE SELLER WAS THE LATE AND GREAT ELIZABETH TAYLOR, THINGS CHANGE DRAMATICALLY AND SUDDENLY, EVERYTHING SHE OWNED TOOK ON A NEW SHINE. HER EARTHLY POSSESSIONS WERE SO COVETED EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON OFFERED WAS SOLD.
NOT JUST FOR THE ASKING PRICE BUT AT LEAST 5 TIMES THE ESTIMATED PRICE AND UP TO 50 TIMES THE ASKING PRICE!
ALL BASED ON HER NAME 'ELIZABETH TAYLOR'...
BEFORE THIS, THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR'S JEWELS WERE THE MOST VALUABLE PRIVATE SALE BUT THAT FETCHED AROUND RM 180 MILLION THOUGH MIND YOU, AT TODAY'S PRICES THAT SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO RM 250 MILLION SINCE THIS AUCTION OCCURED IN THE 1980S. BUT IT IS STILL LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S AUCTION FETCHED.
ANYWAY, ELIZABETH TAYLOR WAS BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL, SEXY AND HOT WHILE THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR WAS AN OLD CRONE WHO CANNOT EVEN BE DESCRIBED AS ATTRACTIVE. THE KINDEST EPITHET FOR HER WAS THAT SHE WAS BEST DRESSED.
Indeed credit must be given to her for she famously said, "I am nothing much to look at so I resolved to be the best dressed woman!" At least she did not delude herself or lived in fantasy land which impressed me no end.
Her sense of wicked humour also puts her in my good books and has certainly gained my respect. Once before dinner in her mansion in Bois du Bologne in the outskirts of Paris, she was staring at her magnificent garden when a guest tried to make some small talk by asking "Is it true there are fairies at the bottom of your garden?". In olden times in England it was always believed fairies lived at the bottom of the garden at a time when houses had large gardens and a stream or river running through. The Duchess replied without blinking an eyelash, "Oh I don't know about that bit there should be one or two joining us for dinner later."
Of course Elizabeth Taylor is more famous and successful and made her own money though like the Duchess of Windsor, the men in her life also bestowed her with costly gifts. But as actress she was a legend in her own time which added to the veneer of glamour and prestige.
Bvlgari; 24 carat emerald and pendant brooch sold for over RM 20 million,a world record for an emerald jewel. Its presale estimate was only RM 1.5 million! Richard Burton gave it to Elzabeth Taylor in 1962 on the occasion of their engagement.
The Cartier Taj Mahal Necklace; sold for RM 28 million, againsta presale estimate of a mere RM 900,0o0. It established a world record for an Indian jewel. It was given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton on her 40th birthday. I remember my parents giving me RM 4000 for mine. Below is the back view.
This is the front view of the Cartier Taj Mahal Necklace, the world's most expensive Indian jewel
The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond of 33.19 carats, D colour, potentially flawless, RM 28 million. World auction record for a colorless diamond per carat. The star wore this almost every day since Richard Burton gave it to her in 1968.
La Peregrina, natural pearl with ruby and diamond mounted by Cartier. Sold for RM 38 million. World auction record for a pearl jewel. This fabled 16th century pearl was given to her by Richard Burton in 1969. Incredibly, he paid only RM 120,000 for it though mind you, back then you could buy a huge bungalow in Bangsar for this amount. The pearl is 50 carats and was part of the Spanish Crown Jewels for centuries and Burton had to bid against a Spanish nobleman for it.
La Peregrina Pearl, the world's most precious natural pearl sold for RM 38 million
Image of the 50-carat pearl only
HER
Versace evening beaded jacket called The Face as it featured portraits of Elizabeth Taylor in her most famous roles. Sold for RM 400,000
Obviously Elizabeth Taylor did NOT pay RM 1.1 million for this silver encrusted brocade gown with matching evening bag by Christian Dior but this baju fetched this staggering amount! Who says old clothes are worthless? La Taylor wore this to Baron Guy de Rothschild's annual ball in his country villa Chateau de Ferrieres in Brie, France in 1968
Glam evening bag
Gina Fratini wedding dress worn for her second wedding to Richard Burton in Botswana, Africa in 1975 and sold for RM 210,000
Sunflower yellow wedding dress
Sunflower wedding dress
Liz Taylor by Andy Warhol. This is one of 300 so the presale estimate was RM 90,000 but itsold for RM 2 million!
The world's most expensive Louis Vuitton luggage; estimated at RM 6,000 which even I can afford, it sold sadly for RM 350,000! Only for garment carriers and hat box!
Hiro Yamata's portrait of Elizabeth Taylor. Painted in 1991, it sold for RM 320,000 shattering the unknown artist's record of only RM 25,000 for his contemporary paintings!
Large, grey scholar's rock typically featured on a Chinese scholar's desk for quiet meditation and introspection. Elizabeth Taylor owned 6 such rocks, testifying to her intellectual prowess. Estimated at a mere RM 25,000, it sold for a staggering RM 1.3 million!
Diamond dust candy box by Andy Warhol shows an opened box of chocolates coated with a sheen of diamond dust sold for RM 760,000
The Kiss from Andy Warhol, sold for over RM 2.2 million, done simply and quickly in felt pen! Elizabeth Taylor displayed this proudly on the wall in her Bel Air home
Gift from Eddie Fisher, one of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands. This souvenir book 'National Velvet' based on her block buster movie of the same name and bound in velvet leather to match her famous violet eyes!
View of Chapelle de Saint Remy. Sold for nearly RM 60 million, it used to hang in her home in Bel Air, California
THE COMPLETE COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR
ACHIEVES $183.5 MILLION/£117.2 MILLION/ €141 MILLION
EVERY ITEM IN COLLECTION OF OVER 1,800 LOTS SOLD
LONDON SALES OF THE FILM STAR’S FINE ART COLLECTION TOTAL
$24.6 MILLION /£15.6 MILLION / €18.7 MILLION OVER TWO DAYS
TOP LOT OF THE COMPLETE COLLECTION - VAN GOGH’S 1889 MASTERPIECE REALIZES £10.1 MILLION ($16 MILLION)
30 ITEMS FETCH MORE THAN $1 MILLION; 7 ITEMS MORE THAN $5 MILLION
London – The auctioneer’s gavel fell on the last lot of the complete Collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie’s London on February 8, bringing the grand total for sales of the film star’s celebrated collection to US$183,483,694 (£117,249,761/ €141,036,143). Every single one of the collection’s 1,817 lots of fine art, jewelry, fashion, decorative arts and memorabilia were snapped up by eager bidders from around the world, often for five, ten or even 50 times their pre-sale estimate.
At Christie’s two-day series of sales devoted to Impressionist and Modern Art on Tuesday and Wednesday, 38 works of art from Miss Taylor’s personal collection were offered for sale, and achieved a combined total of £15,576,412 ($24,628,618/ €18,712,116). Among the stand-out lots of Wednesday’s sale was Kees Van Dongen’s charming Promenade à cheval – a gift from her father, the art dealer Francis Taylor – which sold for £601,250 ($955,988/€719,095), well above its £120,000 estimate. A group of 13 works by the modern British artist Augustus John also performed well as a whole, realizing a combined total of £192,825 ($306,592/€230,619), against an estimate of £152,000 for the group.
The top lot of the two-day series – and of the complete collection – was Vincent Van Gogh’s Vue de l’asile et de la Chappelle de Saint-Rémy, which sold for £10,121,250 ($15,991,575 /€12,165,743) on Tuesday evening. Up until her death in March of 2011, the Van Gogh and many other paintings featured in the sales had been displayed on the walls of Miss Taylor’s home in Bel Air, California.
As one of the most highly-anticipated sales in auction history, The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor generated intense interest from bidders throughout the world, with more than 40 different countries represented throughout the sales series. In December 2011, Christie’s New York sold Miss Taylor’s exquisite collections of jewelry, fashion, decorative arts and memorabilia in a four-day marathon auction series that totaled $156.8 million and set a world record for the most valuable sale of jewelry in auction history, and set a new bar for the most valuable collection of fashion ever offered at auction.
It also marked the company’s first-ever Online-Only sale, which ran in parallel to the live auctions at Christie’s New York and generated over 57,000 bids and $9.5 million in additional sales. In total, 30 items from the collection sold for over the $1 million mark, 7 items sold above the $5 million mark, and numerous new world auction records were achieved – a testament to Miss Taylor’s expert eye for craftsmanship, rarity, and quality in all of the items she chose for her personal collection.
Marc Porter, Chairman, Christie’s Americas commented, “It has been an incredible honor for Christie’s to present this storied collection to the global collecting community. From our initial announcement of the collection sales last summer in New York, to the worldwide tour of the collection highlights last fall, to the last rap of the auctioneer’s gavel today in London, the global outpouring of affection and admiration for Elizabeth Taylor from fans and collectors alike has been amazing for us to witness. We are grateful to the trustees of her estate for entrusting Christie’s with this one-of-a-kind collection, which will go down in history as one of the most successful private collection sales ever presented at auction.”
SALES SUMMARIES The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor
Impressionist and Modern Art
Christie’s London
February 7&8, 2012
2-Day Sales Total: £15,576,412 ($24,628,618)
Old Master Paintings
Christie’s New York
January 25, 2012
Total: $2,098,500
The Legendary Jewels
Christie’s New York
December 13 & 14, 2011
Jewelry Sales Total: $137,235,575
Haute Couture, Fashion & Accessories
Christie’s New York
December 14 & 15, 2011
Fashion Sales Total: $5,541,913
Fine and Decorative Arts & Film Memorabilia, Including Costumes
Christie’s New York
December 16, 2011
Decorative Arts & Memorabilia Total: $4,441,188
The Online-Only Sale
Christie’s New York
December 3-17, 2011
Online-Only Sales Total: $9,537,900
About Christie’s
Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in 2011 that totaled £3.6 billion/$5.7 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private sales totaled £502 million / $808.6m in 2011, an increase of 44% on the previous year.
Christie’s has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.
THE NEW YORK SALES SERIES DEVOTED TO
THE COLLECTION OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR
ACHIEVES $156.8 MILLION /£100.3 MILLION / €120.7 MILLION
MOST VALUABLE SALE OF JEWELRY IN AUCTION HISTORY
MOST VALUABLE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF FASHION
EVER SOLD AT AUCTION
CHRISTIE’S FIRST EVER ONLINE-ONLY AUCTION – CONDUCTED IN PARALLEL TO LIVE AUCTIONS – FETCHES OVER $9.5 MILLION
26 ITEMS SELL FOR OVER $1 MILLION; 6 ITEMS FOR OVER $5 MILLION
STELLAR SALE RESULTS SET THE PACE FOR CONTINUING SALES OF FINE ART FROM THE COLLECTION IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2012
New York – The landmark auctions of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie‟s New York from December 3-17 realized a combined total of $156,756,576 (£100,324,209/ €120,702,563) with every single item sold. The sale drew unprecedented interest from bidders throughout the world, who gathered in Christie‟s flagship Rockefeller Center saleroom to compete in person, on the phone, on-line and by absentee bid to win one of the Collection‟s 1,778 lots of jewelry, fashion, decorative arts and film memorabilia. The total far exceeded Christie‟s pre-sale expectations for the sale as a whole and for individual items, which were frequently hammered down for five, ten, or even 50 times their estimate in some cases.
As one of the most highly-anticipated sales in auction history, the Collection generated intense interest from bidders throughout the world, with 36 different countries represented during the four days of live auctions. This historic sale set a world record for the most valuable sale of jewelry in auction history, and set a new bar for the most valuable collection of fashion ever offered at auction. It also marked the company‟s first-ever Online-Only sale, which ran in parallel to the live auctions at Christie‟s New York and generated over 57,000 bids and $9.5 million in additional sales. In total, 26 items sold for over the $1 million mark, and numerous new world auction records were achieved – a testament to Miss Taylor‟s expert eye for craftsmanship, rarity, and quality in all of the items she chose for her personal collection.
Of the sales, Chris Wilding, son of Elizabeth Taylor and member of the Elizabeth Taylor Trust said, “My mother always acknowledged that she was merely the temporary custodian of the incredible things she owned. Today, I think she would be happy to know that her collections will continue to enrich the lives of those who have acquired pieces. My family is proud that our mother‟s legacy as a celebrated actress, tireless AIDS activist, and accomplished businesswoman touched so many people‟s lives that they wanted to have a part of it for themselves. We could not have carried out her wishes this week without the outstanding help of Christie‟s. We are most grateful to the incredibly creative and capable team led by Marc Porter, Chairman of Christie‟s Americas, Heather Barnhart, Regional Managing Director, and Stephen Lash, Chairman Emeritus.”
All sales proceeds will be directed to the Elizabeth Taylor Trust. A portion of the profits generated by sales of exhibition tickets, event sponsorships and the ongoing sales of select publications will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). An estimated 58,000 visitors have viewed highlights from the Collection since September, when Christie‟s launched an eight-city global exhibition and tour that reached Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Paris, Geneva and Hong Kong. The grand finale of the tour was a spectacular 10-day museum-quality public display of the complete Collection that drew thousands of collectors and fans to the company‟s flagship galleries in Rockefeller Center and became the „can‟t-miss‟ event of the holiday season.
Steven P. Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Christie’s International, commented, “The exhibition and sales of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor in New York have been the crowning achievement to a very strong year at Christie‟s. The success of these sales, with bidders participating from all over the world, demonstrated not only a recognition of the taste and style of Miss Taylor, but also the convening power of Christie‟s. I am very proud of our whole team, from all corners of our global operation. Their achievement was successfully bringing this event to fruition in a manner that paid homage to the panache and glamour of Elizabeth Taylor herself.”
SALES SUMMARIES The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor
The Legendary Jewels
December 13 & 14, 2011
Jewelry Sales Total: $137,235,575
The inaugural sale of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor set the tone for a record-breaking week of sales by becoming – in a single night – the most valuable jewelry sale in auction history. 80 of the film star‟s most iconic jewels fetched nearly $116 million at the black-tie affair on December 13, followed by a full eight-hour day sale on December 14 that yielded $21.3 million more in sales. Numerous world auction records for jewelry were established, including a new record price for any pearl jewel, any emerald jewel, and any Indian jewel. New record per-carat prices were established for an emerald, a ruby, a yellow diamond, and for a colorless diamond.
In addition, a record price was set for a pair of natural pearl ear pendants, and for any Van Cleef & Arpels jewel sold at auction.
The top lot of the sale – and of the Collection thus far – was the legendary 16th century pearl, La Peregrina, which realized $11,842,500 (£7,579,200/ €9,118,725), setting two world auction records: for an historic pearl (against the previous record of $2.5 million set by La Régente at Christie‟s Geneva, 2005) and for any pearl jewel (surpassing the $7 million paid for The Baroda Pearls at Christie‟s New York, 2007). A gift from Richard Burton in 1969 (having been bought for $37,000 at auction), this remarkable pearl of 203 grains in size is equivalent to 50 carats. Discovered in the 1500s in the Gulf of Panama, it was part of the crown jewels of Spain for generations and ranks as one of the most important historic pearls in the world.
Other major highlights of the jewelry portion of the Collection included:
The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, the spectacular D-color, 33.19 carat diamond ring that the star wore virtually every day since receiving it as a gift from Richard Burton in 1968, fetched $8,818,500 (£5,643,840 /€6,790,245) against a pre-sale estimate of $2.5-3.5 million, and set a record price-per-carat for a colorless diamond. It sold to an Asian private collector in the room after a fierce bidding battle.
The Taj Mahal Diamond, an Indian diamond and jade pendant necklace with a later ruby and gold chain designed by Cartier, was a gift from Richard Burton on the occasion of Elizabeth Taylor‟s 40th birthday. This historic jewel soared above its pre-sale estimate of $300,000-500,000 to achieve $8,818,500 (£5,643,840 /€6,790,245) – a record price for any Indian jewel at auction.
The Emerald and Diamond Pendant Brooch, by BVLGARI, the 23.46 carat rectangular-cut Colombian emerald jewel that was a gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor on the occasion of their engagement in 1962, sold for $6,578,500 (£4,210,240/€5,065,445) – setting both a new record price-per-carat for an emerald and a new record for any emerald jewel at auction.
Of the historic sales, François Curiel, International Jewelry Director and President of Christie’s Asia, noted, “For many, there was both the desire to share in the stories behind Elizabeth Taylor‟s iconic jewels and to dream of perhaps acquiring one. For others, the sale provided the opportunity to purchase unique jewels, which brought Elizabeth Taylor such joy and reflect her remarkable taste and connoisseurship. I know she would be thrilled that her passion has inspired others through this landmark event. Being the auctioneer for this sale was one of the most memorable auctioneering events of my life.”
Haute Couture, Fashion & Accessories
December 14 & 15, 2011
Fashion Sales Total: $5,541,913
A fitting celebration of Hollywood‟s most glamorous star and her fearless sense of style, the two-day sale series devoted to the haute couture, fashion and accessories portion of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor realized a combined total of $5,541,913 (£3,602,243/ €4,267,273). Comprising nearly 400 items in total, including many of Miss Taylor‟s most-photographed looks, the sales featured scores of museum-quality treasures. The Evening Sale on December 14 opened with the announcement that the Elizabeth Taylor Trust will donate Miss Taylor‟s sunflower yellow wedding dress (pictured left) from her first marriage to Richard Burton to a major American institution.
The top couture lot was a Christian Dior Evening Gown of Silver Encrusted Brocade with matching Evening Bag, 1968, which Elizabeth Taylor wore to Guy de Rothschild and his wife‟s yearly ball at their country home, Chateau de Ferrières, in Brie, France. This ensemble realized $362,500 (£235,625/ €279,125). The accessories were led by the three lots of Louis Vuitton luggage which fetched $245,500 (£159,575/ €189,035) in total.
Other major highlights of the Haute Couture and Fashion collection included:
Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Liz, an offset lithograph in colors, 1964, signed with a dedication by the artist in felt-tip pen: „to Elizabeth with much love‟, which sold for $662,500 (£430,625/ €510,125). In recognition of her friendship with Warhol and this cherished gift, Miss Taylor proudly displayed this personalized work in the drawing room of her home in Bel Air.
Miss Taylor’s Gina Fratini Wedding Dress, a flowing caftan-style dress worn for her second marriage to Richard Burton in Botswana in 1975, sold for $62,500 (£40,625/€48,125). Labeled „Gina Fratini‟, 1975, the dress has a patchwork silk bodice and floating pastel chiffon ombré sleeves and skirts, with long, beaded, feather trimmed streamers.
A Versace Beaded Evening Jacket, ‘The Face’, circa 1992, realized $128,500 (£83,525/ €98,945). This jacket is beaded with rhinestone portraits of Elizabeth Taylor in her most famous roles, including Cleopatra. Miss Taylor wore this jacket when she spoke at „The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness‟, which featured a performance by the remaining members of the band „Queen‟, in 1992 at London's Wembley Stadium.
Patricia Frost, Christie’s Head of Fashion, noted, “We are delighted with the combined result of these auctions which confirms Elizabeth Taylor‟s status as Fashion Icon and Muse. Interest was truly international throughout the two days and four sessions, with private individuals, celebrities and fashion archives all competing fiercely online, in the room and on the telephones. From couture gowns and jackets to caftans and Miss Taylor‟s luggage - famously labeled „Mine!‟ - bidders paid tribute to Miss Taylor‟s sense of style. Christie‟s are very pleased that her wardrobe will continue to inspire further generations of fans, fashionistas and designers and it is wonderful that The Elizabeth Taylor Trust will generously donate her iconic Irene Sharaff Sunflower Yellow Silk Chiffon Wedding Dress to a major American institution.”
Fine and Decorative Arts & Film Memorabilia, Including Costumes
December 16, 2011
Decorative Arts & Memorabilia Total: $4,441,188
The live auction sales of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor drew to an appropriately dramatic close on December 16 with heavy international competition for Fine and Decorative Arts & Film Memorabilia from the Collection which realized $4,441,188 (£2,842,360 /€3,419,715). Bidders from 20 different countries around the world competed for an array of fine and decorative items from Miss Taylor‟s personal collection, including a superb group of scholar‟s rocks and two works by Andy Warhol. Among the items of memorabilia chased by bidders were cherished gifts from Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan, and a pair of scripts bound in lilac leather that were gifts from Eddie Fisher
Top lots from the Fine and Decorative Arts & Memorabilia selection included:
A Large Gray Scholar’s Rock, one of six scholar‟s rocks in Miss Taylor‟s personal collection, was pursued by multiple bidders on the phone and online to achieve $386,500 (£247,360/€297,605) – more than 30 times its pre-sale estimate of $8,000-12,000.
Andy Warhol’s ‘Untitled’, the postcard-sized drawing of lips that Warhol addressed „to elizabeth a big kiss‟ that was a favorite of visitors to the New York exhibition of the complete Collection, was won by an American private bidder for $242,500 (£155,200/€186,725).
Andy Warhol’s ‘Diamond Dust Candy Box,‟ a sparkling depiction of a opened box of chocolates coated with a sheen of diamond dust, achieved $236,500 (£151,360 / €182,105) or nearly $4,000 per chocolate.
Elizabeth Taylor‟s script for the 1944 M.G.M. production of „National Velvet’, the first film to solidify her status as an international film star at the age of 12, fetched $170,500 (£109,120/€131,285), well beyond its pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3000.
The Online-Only Sale
December 3-17, 2011
Online-Only Sales Total: $9,537,900
The sales of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor featured a Christie‟s first: an Online-Only sale that ran in parallel to the live auction series in New York. The two-week time-based auction was hugely successful, with over $9.5 million in total sales and bidders from 25 countries around the world competing for 973 additional items of fine and costume jewelry, designer fashion and accessories, decorative arts and memorabilia from Miss Taylor‟s personal collection. In total, more than 57,000 online bids were received, as collectors rapidly drove prices from the $50 starting point up into the thousands.
The top-selling item of the Online-Only sale was Hiro Yamagata’s Portrait of Elizabeth Taylor, an acrylic on canvas painted in 1991 (pictured above left) that realized $108,000 (£69,120/€83,160), shattering the previous auction record of US $7,973 for the Japanese contemporary artist.
Additional top lots from the Online-Only selection included:
A Suite of Multi-Gem, Diamond and White Gold Jewelry, which realized $78,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-5,000. Similarly, a Diamond and 18K white gold necklace also realized $78,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-15,000.
In the fashion and accessories section of the Online-Only sale, a brown patent leather handbag by Cartier paired with sunglasses realized $20,400, well above a pre-sale estimate of $300-500, and a minaudière by Judith Lieber realized $31,200 over a pre-sale estimate of $200-400.
A pair of custom-made black leather cowboy boots, one of a dozen pairs featured in the Online-Only sale, fetched $10,800. The boots were embroidered on the pull-straps in gold with the initials “ET” and signed on the inside by the boot maker.
Michael O’Neal, Head of Digital Media, said: “We are thrilled with the results of our first Online-Only sale, which Christie‟s embraced as an innovative way to make this incredible Collection accessible to Elizabeth Taylor‟s legions of fans worldwide. As the international tour of the collection‟s highlights showed us, thousands of people the world over have been genuinely moved by the legacy of Elizabeth Taylor and were eager to be a part of last
week‟s events and sales in New York. The online-only sales proved to be the perfect complement; not only did thousands of collectors and fans turn out to participate, they also shared their enthusiasm for the chase on our Twitter and Facebook pages, creating a true online phenomenon that mirrored the record-setting events taking place in our New York saleroom.”
Old Master Paintings, January 25, 2012 – Christie‟s New York
Impressionist & Modern Art, February 7 & 8, 2012 – Christie‟s London
After the New Year, the sales of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor continue with two special presentations of Miss Taylor‟s fine art collection at Christie‟s New York and London salerooms. Educated from a young age to appreciate fine art, objects and furniture, Elizabeth Taylor shared her love of fine paintings and drawings with her father, the art dealer Francis Taylor. She added steadily to her collection throughout the years, gradually assembling an exceptional group of late 19th century and early 20th century French and British paintings and drawings, including a significant group of works inherited from her father.
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