A glamorous three day Hollywood auction celebrating the luxurious lifestyle and singular career of Elizabeth Taylor will preview in County Kildare in September. On offer at Julien’s Auctions of Los Angeles is a spectacular collection of iconic fashion, film costumes and accessories by designers Yves St. Laurent, Valentino, Versace, Gucci, Dior and others. Enhancing the sense of retro luxury is an exhibition preview of the collection which is to set sail on a transatlantic voyage from Southhampton to New York on Cunards Queen Mary 2 on October 18. There will be an auction preview at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge from September 2 to October 31. A second exhibition is to be held at The Standard Oil Building, Beverly Hills, early in December. The live and online auction runs from December 6 to December 8. Highlights include Agathon Leonard, a gilt bronze c1901 lamp featuring Loie Fuller, the sensational American dancer at the Folies-Bergre in Paris ($15,000-20,000); the blue chiffon evening gown designed by Edith Head and worn by Taylor to the 1974 Academy Awards ($4,000-6,000); a group of three silk Persian rugs from Taylor’s Gstaad residence ($4,000-6,000); a black and white leopardskin print pantsuit design by Mirsa (Marchesa Olga di Gresy) and worn in the 1970 film The Only Game in Town ($3,000-5,000); a New York Yankees jacket from a Vogue photo shoot in Paris in 1974 by photographer Bruce Weber ($2,000-4,000); a silver studded Versace leather biker jacket worn by Taylor for her appearance on the Johnny Carson show ($4,000-6,000); an Yves St. Laurent poncho and jersey ensemble from the 1965 film The Sandpiper ($2,000-3,000); a green wool felt cape by Franca, London (Baroness Stael von Holstein) worn to Buckingham Palace for Richard Burton’s investiture ($6,000-8,000); a Loro Piana brown cashmere wrap worn to the AIDS candlelit march in Washington in 1996 and several sterling table pieces including two Gorham salt and pepper sets with “ET” monograms; four Cartier napkin rings and an Asprey sterling Kiwi bird bottle stopper.The three time Academy Award winning actress whose epic romances, marriages and jet setting lifestyle were a source of enduring fascination had a discriminating eye. A successful businesswoman she possessed one of the most important private jewellery collections in the world. In 1963 when she played the title role of Cleopatra she was the first actor to command a million dollars for her performance. And she was a philanthropist. Julien’s Auctions produces high profile sales in the film, music, sports and art markets. The Irish connection is through its co-owner and executive director, Athlone born and reared Martin Nolan, a former Wall Street stockbroker.
