Elizabeth Taylor has raised $150 million for Christie's in a series of auctions that sold artefacts which belonged to the star. The four-day event in New York, 'The Elizabeth Taylor Collection' saw some her most prized possessions being sold for the auction house.
Some of the main sells were a leather-bound film script for 'The National Velvet' that went for 50 times its estimate, at $170,000 and one of her necklaces which featured a 16th century pearl, which went for a record $11.8 million. Other artefacts sold included haute couture, memorabilia, furniture and various other forms of jewellery. This is no surprise considering that the Hollywood starlet was famous for her love of emeralds and diamonds. Marc Porter, chairman of Christie's stated that the response towards the sales were 'nothing short of overwhelming with multiple bidders competing for every lot'. Part of the money raised will be going towards 'The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation', which the actresses set up herself in 1991.
The auction has continued into the weekend with around 1000 further items appearing on an on-line auction which will finish tonight (17 Dec 2011). Even though the 'Cleopatra' star died in March (2011), aged 79, if this auction is anything to go by, it is obvious that Elizabeth Taylor's legendary status still lives on.