Taylor auctions raise almost $A178m

Thursday, February 09, 2012 » 10:17am


 
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A collection of artworks, jewellery and fashion belonging to Elizabeth Taylor has sold for almost STG120 million ($A177.54 million) at auction.

Every item in the collection of more than 1800 lots was sold, some at 50 times their pre-sale estimates.

The auctions took place in New York and London, ending with a sale of artwork at Christie's London on Wednesday.

The highest price achieved out of the entire collection was a Van Gogh painting, Vue de l'asile et de la Chapelle de Saint-Remy, which fetched STG10,121,250 ($A14.92 million) on Tuesday. It hung in Taylor's California home until her death in March 2011.

A total of 38 artworks were sold in London on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A highlight of Wednesday's sale was a gift to the late Hollywood actress from her father, the art dealer Francis Taylor. Dutch artist Kees van Dongen's Promenade a Cheval sold for STG601,250 ($A886,146), well above its STG120,000 ($A176,860) estimate.

A group of 13 paintings by British artist Augustus John sold for a total of STG192,825 ($A284,193).

Marc Porter, chairman of Christie's Americas, said: 'It has been an incredible honour for Christie's to present this storied collection to the global collecting community.'

He added: '... 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.'

In December, Christie's New York sold Taylor's collections of jewellery, fashion, decorative arts and memorabilia in a four-day marathon auction series.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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