Who Bought What at the Elizabeth Taylor Auction and Why

 I’ve never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I’m here to take care of them and to love them – Elizabeth Taylor

After viewing one of the most complete and magnificent private collections of jewelry, art, memorabilia, accessories and other articles ever amassed by a single person during The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor exhibition at Christie’s New York, I wrote the following:

This collection represents a life well spent. Christie’s presentation of the exhibit makes it seem as if her life’s work was complete.

It’s almost a shame that these items will soon be separated.

However, after attending the two days of the fine jewelry sales (part of the four-day Elizabeth Taylor auction at Christie’s New York along with an “online only” component), my mind has changed.

I met friends of Taylor and those who never knew her. I met people who purchased the product because of their ties to Taylor, because of their fascination with a particular piece, or to use what they purchased in their business. It was auction that attracted some of the world’s wealthiest people, celebrities, top professionals in the jewelry and gems industries, and those of modest means.

Bidders prepare for the opening night auction to begin. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

The jewelry and other items amassed will be used in all sorts of ways. The important part is that it appears that the jewelry will be used and that’s the way Taylor, it seems, would have wanted it. After all, this is a woman who wore a 33-carat diamond ring almost every day and who was filmed wearing a priceless ruby jewelry collection by the pool. Taylor didn’t put her baubles away for special occasion, she wore them. And her collection showed an appreciation of priceless pieces along with far less expensive items because she either admired the work or they had personal meaning.

Photo credit: Christie's

Jewelry designer to the stars Lorraine Schwartz bought back the fringe diamond bracelet that Taylor bought from her for her 70th birthday.

“I was wearing it for her party at the Bel-Air Hotel, and she kept calling me over to look at it and to try it on,” Schwartz wrote on her facebook page. “Finally, the next morning she called me and said “‘I know who’s buying that bracelet for my birthday … I’m buying it for my birthday!’”

Photo credit: Christie's

Schwartz also bought a pair of earrings that Taylor’s third husband, Michael Todd, created just for her.

“I could feel Elizabeth nudging me telling me to buy them,” Schwartz said on the auction floor during the second day. “That’s what she used to do. She used to say, ‘go ahead buy it.’ She’d be kicking me under the table (saying), ‘Go ahead. You know you want it.’”

Photo credit: Christie's

Schwartz was very busy for the two days. In addition to what she purchased she lost a bid for one of her pieces and purchased a lot of three of her own bangles for Kim Kardashian, who paid $64,900, well above the high $8,000 estimate. “If you have a piece of jade, the energy goes into the piece and you absorb the energy,” Kardashian said by phone. “So I can feel Elizabeth in the piece.”

Photo credit: Christie's

Companies of course got into the act for the larger pieces. The 33.19-carat Elizabeth Taylor Diamond (also known as the Taylor-Burton diamond and formerly called as the Krupp diamond), a gift from Richard Burton, was reportedly bought by South Korean businessman Daniel Pang for $8.8 million. He was bidding on behalf of E-land World, a South Korean concern. The company plans to exhibit the diamond ring at “E World,” an amusement park in Daegu, according to reports.

Photo credit: Christie's

Bulgari, the Italian luxury jewelry house, bought back $20 million worth of jewels, including a 52.72-carat sapphire-and-diamond sautoir for $5.9 million and an emerald-and-diamond necklace for $6.1 million, according to the New York Post.

Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Then there’s the paper jewelry. The gag gift from Malcolm Forbes to Taylor has garnered a great deal of media attention—much of it from me. The suite of paper jewelry had a high estimate of $300. It sold on the second day for $6,875. It was purchased by Jenny and John Caro, owners of Jewelry By Design, an independent jewelry store in Woodbridge, Va.

The couple came to the auction with a $50,000 line of credit and in a few minutes it was obvious they were being priced out of buying any real jewelry. So when the paper jewelry came up on the second day, they went all out to win the lot. The couple is using the paper jewelry along with two jewelry pieces they purchased on the online only auction to create an Elizabeth Taylor display for their customers. The jewelry was chosen because they had pictures of Taylor wearing the pieces in books that will be used in the display.

“We’re a good example of a business doing things, being different and taking risks to help our business grow,” Jenny said in a phone interview.

“You couldn’t go by the intrinsic value of jewels, because the truth is everything was selling so high that what you bought you couldn’t turn around,” she added. “The South Korean who bought the Burton diamond bought it for a business reason. What is $8.8 million when it comes to advertising worldwide? What’s $6,800 when it comes to local advertising?”

Using the Forbes gift as inspiration, Christie’s created its own full-color paper jewelry book with recreations of 15 of Taylor’s most iconic jewels. It ran as a limited edition of 5,000 and was available for purchase in person at Christie’s headquarters during the New York exhibition, which was held December 3 -12. It was sold for $25 each, $5 of which went to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Los Angeles jewelry designer Sandra Müller had her own unique story. She first met Taylor as a child while living in Europe and credited the actress with inspiring her to build a life in the jewelry field. Taylor was a friend of her parents. As an adult working and living in Los Angeles, she said she would visit Taylor’s house often as a friend and to show her work. In 2001, Taylor bought three of her pieces.

Müller was already planning to go to the auction to bid for a client. While looking through the auction catalog, she discovered that those pieces were being sold as part of the fashion and accessories auction, held on the third day. Her pieces didn’t include her as the creator. She contacted Christie’s and the auction rectified the error.

The high estimate for the jewels was $300. Müller e-mailed me to let me know that her pieces sold for $15,000. With commission the total was actually $18,750.

“The 18k gold value alone would be about 10,000.00 if melted,” she added. “I think it was one of the few good deals in auction.”

I asked her how it felt to sit in the auction room and watch her pieces being sold at the historic event. Her reply was brief.

“Thrilled”

Elizabeth Taylor’s Paper Jewelry Finds a Home with a Virginia Jeweler

Elizabeth Taylor's paper jewelry suite sold at Christie's auction to the owners of Jewelry By Design. Photo Credit: Anthony DeMarco

Out of all the outrageous prices paid for jewelry belonging to Elizabeth Taylor during the two-day auction at Christie's New York, the biggest head scratcher had to be the $6,875 paid for a suite of paper jewelry that had a high pre-auction estimate of $300.

The “jewelry” was a gag gift from Malcolm Forbes to Elizabeth Taylor. She apparently loved the spirit of the gift and recounted the story of it in her 2002 book, My Love Affair with Jewelry.

Jenny Caro, who, along with her husband John, owns Jewelry By Design, a jewelry retail store in Woodbridge, Va., explained why they bought the gift and how they are using it.

Forbes would have been proud of the couple’s marketing savvy.

“Fortunately due to you and other people in the press our purchase of the suite of paper jewelry has turned into a bonanza of free press,” she said.

After purchasing the paper suite, she was interviewed by the BBC outside the auction house. Stories about the purchase have already made the local newspapers. Two Washington, D.C. television stations are scheduled to make the 20-mile trek south to Woodbridge to interview the couple at their store. And now she has a story on Jewelry News Network.

Jenny Caro being interviewed by the BBC about her purchase of paper jewelry. Photo Credit: Jewelry By Design

For a business that advertises on local cable, the purchase has paid off big time in free publicity, particularly the week before Christmas.

It doesn’t end with just the immediate publicity. While taking the train back to Washington, D.C., they purchased two of Taylor’s jewelry pieces through the Online Only Auction that Christie’s is hosting. It will be used along with the paper jewelry in an Elizabeth Taylor display at the store.

John and Jenny Caro.
Photo Credit: Jewelry By Design

“We’re a good example of a business doing things, being different and taking risks to help our business grow,” she said. “What many people see as foolish can be wise.”

She compares her purchase to the purchase of the 33-carat Burton-Taylor diamond by the Korean-based E Land Group, who said they are going to exhibit it at “E World,” an amusement park in Daegu, according to published reports.

“You couldn’t go by the intrinsic value of jewels, because the truth is everything was selling so high that what you bought you couldn’t turn around,” she said. “The South Korean who bought the Burton diamond bought it for a business reason. What is $8.8 million when it comes to advertising worldwide? What’s $6,800 when it comes to local advertising.”

The couple arrived from Washington, D.C., by bus to the black tie gathering on Tuesday night and stayed at a hotel on Rockefeller Square.

“We were there for Tuesday night and at first I was insecure, expecting people dressed to the nines and a thoroughly eloquent affair,” she said. “But people were dressed in all manners and all kinds of people were there. It wasn’t exactly a luxury experience. It was very much of a no nonsense experience at the auction with the seats crammed together.”

It wasn’t necessarily the couple’s goal to purchase the paper jewelry suite. They wanted to buy fine jewelry that Taylor was pictured wearing to use for store promotions. With a line of credit of $50,000, they focused on the opera charm necklace, a gift from Edith Head, a costume designer and very close friend of Taylor. It was the third lot of the evening and had an estimate of $1,500 to $2,000. It sold for $314,500.

It was obvious they were not going to buy anything that night and Jenny said the folding chairs were uncomfortable.

Photo credit: Jewelry By Design

“As the night went on we could see what was happening,” she said. “We left early. You can only watch so many millions be spent like hundred-dollar bills.”

They returned the next day for the second and final day of the jewelry portion of the four-day auction.

“We stayed hopeful but prices were very high (again),” she said. “Ninety percent of the sales went to people on phones. Who knows who they even were? Kim Kardashian? The businessman from South Korea?”

It wasn’t until the afternoon session they found something they could afford: the paper jewelry suite. But it wasn’t easy as they found themselves in a bidding war as the price flew past the $300 estimate and finally sold for $6,875, including auction commission.

“Everyone was looking at us, laughing almost,” she said. “We were thrilled.”

The couple was interviewed by the BBC outside the auction house. Then they decided to skip the bus, feeling that they earned a bit of luxury and took train back to Washington.

Coral branch, multi-gem, cultured pearl and gold necklace purchased online by the Caros. Photo credit: Christie's

But they were still working as they won bids on two items on the online auction: chandelier earrings and an ivory necklace. The winning bid for the necklace was $8,000. In what Jenny describes as an “obscure book,” they found a picture of Taylor wearing the necklace with George Hamilton.

“It’s a very different, interesting necklace,” Jenny said. “She was young when she bought that and you could definitely see how her taste refined over the years and how it became more sophisticated. We are mainly a jewelry store for self-purchasing women and we see our customers develop their taste and sophistication.

In addition to the publicity and the Elizabeth Taylor display, the couple has more plans for the Taylor purchases.

“We look forward to having fun with our customers and we will develop a line of custom jewelry based on what we bought.”

Kim Kardashian Buys Jade Bracelets at Elizabeth Taylor Auction

The Jade bracelets by Lorraine Schwartz.

NEW YORK - Kim Kardashian purchased three jade bracelets created by Los Angeles jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz during the second day of the Elizabeth Taylor auction at Chrstie’s New York. Schwartz, a friend of both the reality TV star and the famous actress and humanitarian, was at the auction and purchased the jewelry for Kardashian. They were sold in one lot for $64,900, well above the high $8,000 estimate.

Schwartz said Taylor wore the white, black and lavender bangles nearly every day, particularly in the latter part of her life.

She also said that Kardashian was going to buy those same bangles directly from her but really wanted the pair that Taylor actually wore.

“She loved those bangles for a long time,” Schwartz said. “She bought them because they’re Elizabeth’s.”

Schwartz is known for creating jewelry for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Taylor and Kardashian.

Kardashian, who was the last person to interview Taylor, said by phone that she admired the movie star and jewelry lover. She also spoke about the power of Jade.

“If you have a piece of jade, the energy goes into the piece and you absorb the energy,” Kardashian said. “So I can feel Elizabeth in the piece.”

She added, “Elizabeth Taylor is iconic. She is my idol and my icon.”

Elizabeth Taylor Two-Day Jewelry Sale Fetches a Record Breaking $137.2 Million

Francois Curiel Leads the auction Wednesday.

NEW YORK - Nothing could have topped Tuesday night’s $115.9 million jewelry auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s Legendary Jewelry and no one expected that to happen. However, the second and final day of the jewelry sale, held Wednesday at Christie’s New York fetched another exceptional result: $21.3 million.

The two days of marathon auctions achieved the combined total of more than $137.2 million, making it “not only the most valuable private collection of jewelry ever offered at auction, but also the most valuable sale of jewelry in auction history,” the auction house said Wednesday. 

Again, 100 percent of the lots were sold during the eight-hour sale and no more than one item sold for its auction estimate. Sales 10 times the high estimate was the norm. Two items sold for more than $1 million. They are:

An antique garland-designed necklace with suspended natural and rose cut diamonds sold for nearly $1.5 million and was the top lot of the daylong session. The high estimate was $150,000.

The other was the most anticipated piece, the Burton wedding bands. Two eternity bands, the first designed as a baguette-cut diamond eternity band, mounted in gold; the second designed as a circular-cut and single-cut diamond octagonal-shaped eternity band, mounted in white gold. The pair sold for just over $1 million after 15 minutes of intense bidding. The high estimate was $8,000.

“It took eight hours and three auctioneers to sell 190 more jewels from Elizabeth Taylor’s storied collection,” said François Curiel, international director of jewelry at Christie’s. “The atmosphere was electric from the very first to the last lot, with collectors from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America chasing each individual jewel with a tenacity never seen before.”

Wednesday’s event at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters was more casual than the intense black tie affair Tuesday night, but it had plenty of moments of intense bidding, dramatic pauses and even moments of humor. Like the previous auction estimates were treated as something one needn’t be bothered with.

Online bidders were strongly involved in many items and there were many other bidders on the phone from around the world. Curiel said the spectacular results of the prior night’s sale led to more international interest. Circular cut amethyst with turquoise ear clips led to a battle among three online bidders before selling for $52,500. New Zealand’s name came up during several bids.

Jewelry from the House of Taylor did very well with three lots selling for more than $200,000. Taylor licensed her to the company, which produced fine jewelry at several price points. Rge short-lived company had a spectacular rise and sudden fall in 2008 during the beginnings of the economic recession.

Pieces from many of the luxury jewelry brands associated with Taylor for years (Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Bulgari and others) had another exceptional day.

Bidders whom I spoke with were awestruck by the selling prices over the two days. But they were smiling, knowing that they were part of a once in a lifetime event. Los Angeles-based jewelry designer, Lorraine Schwartz, a friend of Taylor who designed some of her jewelry, tried to buy back one of the pieces. She lost.

“I was thinking like the dealer that I am,” she said. “I just couldn’t bring myself to go higher.”

One of the more unusual lots was a suite of paper jewelry that Forbes founder, Malcolm Forbes, gave to Taylor as a gag gift. It sold for $6,875. Its estimate was $200 to $300. How do you explain this?

The longest and most intense bidding was for the Burton wedding rings, the last lot of the two-day sale. There was several moments of extended silence as Rahul Kadakia, head of Christie’s jewelry department in the Americas, extended the bidding as the price moved up in tiny increments.

When the gavel finally sounded, the audience let out a breath and applauded.

Elizabeth Taylor Auction Expected to Fetch $30 Million

The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, a 33.19-carat, Asscher-cut gem that's expected to fetch $2.5 million-$3.5 million.

The first day of the most anticipated jewelry auction in (well, who knows how long?) will begin at 8 p.m. The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor sale at Christie’s Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York is expected to fetch $30 million for 61 lots.

“This is without a doubt the greatest private collection of jewelry ever assembled in one place,” said Marc Porter, chairman and president of Christie's Americas.

This is only the beginning. Another auction of the actress’ jewelry will be held Wednesday, followed by two more days that will see Taylor’s jewelry, couture clothing, accessories, memorabilia and decorative arts sold to the highest bidders.

Among the items in the sale tonight is the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, a 33.19-carat, Asscher-cut diamond on a ring that was a gift from her husband Richard Burton. This was the ring that Taylor wore nearly every day. Burton purchased the stone at auction in 1968 for a reported $305,000. It's expected to fetch $2.5 million-$3.5 million.

There’s also the La Peregrina, the pear-shaped pearl, ruby and diamond necklace centered with a 203-grain pear-shaped pearl discovered in the 16th Century as its centerpiece. Taylor and Al Durante of Cartier designed the piece. It’s expected to sell for $2 million to $3 million.

Another highlight is The Taj Majal Diamond, a gift from Richard Burton, for Elizabeth Taylor’s 40th birthday in 1972. Inscribed with the name Nur Jahan, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahangir, this heart-shaped diamond is believed to have been a gift from the ruler to his son, who became the great emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666). It is believed that the young prince presented the diamond to his favorite and most beloved wife, Mumtaz-i-Mahal. The emperor’s grief at her death just four years later inspired him to commission the majestic Taj Mahal in her memory. Estimate: $300,000 – $500,000

I will be attending tonight’s auction and will be either tweeting or blogging live from it, so stay tuned.

Read more about the auction on Jewelry News Network by following this link.

Elizabeth Taylor Auction Includes Pieces by Sandra Müller

The upcoming Collection of Elizabeth Taylor auction at Christie’s New York will include three pieces from a Los Angeles jewelry designer who had a personal relationship with jewelry-loving star.

“I would often go to visit Elizabeth Taylor at her house and she would say that her heart would jump a certain way when she saw a jewel that was just right for her. And these did it,” said Sandra Müller, who has a store in Beverly Hills.

The items that caught Taylor’s fancy was an 18k gold necklace and bracelet set covered with smoky quartz, citrines, corals, fresh water pearls, tiger's eye, crystal de roche and chrysophrase; And a stand-alone 18k gold bracelet with lavender overtones that uses amethyst, citrines, aquamarines, rubelite, fresh water pearls and ametrines (All pictured above). Taylor bought the pieces in 2001.

“The style is very Capri chic 1970’s,” Müller said. “My inspiration was to create something fun, colorful, charming, and full of life, using fine semi-precious gem beads and combining colors that would have suited an Emilio Pucci or Thea Porter colorful gown—very much Elizabeth’s style.”

The pieces will be placed on the block December 15 as part of the Fashions and Accessories (IV) portion of the auction. The estimate is $200 - $300. The entire Elizabeth Taylor auction will be held over a four-day period, December 13-16.

Müller said she first met Taylor at the Palace Hotel in Gstaad when she was nine years old. Taylor was having lunch with the wife and daughter of Yul Brynner and she joined them. In fact, it was at this meeting that Müller decided that she wanted to be a jewelry designer.

“I was mesmerized by her (Taylor’s) headdress, with an emerald dangling on her forehead,” Müller said. “She had an incredibly eclectic taste for jewelry. This encounter awakened in me an aspiration to become a jeweler. Little did I know that one day she would be wearing my creations.”

Müller grew up in Paris and Geneva. At eighteen, she moved to California to study gemology and jewelry manufacturing at the Gemological Institute of America. Since then, she has been creating one-of-a kind jewels and limited editions for a clientele that includes many celebrities.

Elizabeth Taylor, Malcolm Forbes and Christie's Love Paper Jewels

The Paper Jewelry Suite on sale as part of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor auction.

 
The friendship of Malcolm Forbes and Elizabeth Taylor was as legendary as the lives they led. Part of what they shared was a great sense of humor.

This humor and affection toward one another was evident when the founder of Forbes once presented Taylor with a suite of paper jewels. It turns out that Taylor, who has been gifted with some of the most priceless pieces of jewelry in the world, loved the sentiment and recounted the story of it in her 2002 book, My Love Affair with Jewelry.

The paper cut-out of a necklace, a pair of ear pendants and a pair of ear clips will be among the statement jewelry, couture creations, memorabilia and other items that make up “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor” auction, December 13-16 at Christie’s New York headquarters. It will be sold on December 14 and has an estimate of $200 to $300.

The sale of the paper jewelry gave Christie’s the inspiration for Marissa Wilcox, International creative director at Christie's, to create a paper-jewelry collection as part of the unprecedented auction.

“She has wanted to create a book of paper jewelry for ages because our jewelry clients have told us that they will sometimes cut images of individual jewels out of our sale catalogs and ‘try on’ bracelets, necklaces, rings and brooches,” said Erin McAndrew, head of Communications, Christie’s America. “When the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor came to us, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to launch our first book of paper jewelry.”

Using the Forbes gift as her inspiration, Wilcox selected 15 of Taylor's most iconic jewels to recreate in paper and incorporated them into a full color booklet. Among them is the Peregrina pearl—a historic 16th century pearl that was part of the Spanish crown jewels for generations, the Schlumberger "Night of The Iguana" brooch, the BVLGARI emerald suite, and of course, the 33.19 carat D-color Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. All will be part of the auction.

“Each jewel is perforated around the edges so you can just pop them out and pop them on, so to speak,” McAndrew said.

The book is available for purchase in person only at the New York exhibition (which has begun and will run till Monday) and the four-day auction that follows the exhibit. The auction house created 5,000 books and they are being sold for $25 each, with $5 going to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Christie’s Elizabeth Taylor Exhibit is a Big Draw

People line up outside the entrance of Christie's to view the Elizabeth Taylor collection.

The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor opened Saturday to large crowds and long lines outside of Christie’s N.Y. Rockefeller Center headquarters.

“It was a great opening day for us, with a packed house and lots of happy Elizabeth Taylor fans,” Erin McAndrew, head of Communications, Christie’s Americas, said Sunday. “We sold over 15,000 tickets thus far.”

The exhibition continues through December 12, which will be followed by the sale of one of the greatest collections ever amassed by a single person. Tickets are timed, are still available and can be purchased on Christie’s website online for the day and time slot of your choice.



I first went past Christie’s at around 11 a.m. Saturday, an hour before the doors open to the public, and was surprised to see very few people. I returned at 3 p.m., and the line stretched for more than a block and was mixing in with the throngs of holiday tourists at nearby Rockefeller Plaza. 

Follow this link for more coverage of the Elizabeth Taylor exhibition and auction at Christie's.

Also opening Saturday was the online only auction of 950 items from the Taylor collection, including fine jewelry, costume, jewelry, fashion and accessories and decorative arts. Online bidding will run concurrently with the live auction. Lots begin closing on December 15 and all lots will close December 17.

“At 10 a.m. (Sunday) 12,000 bids have been submitted thus far,” McAndrew said. “There are many more items still available at the $250-500 level, including Louis Vuitton bags, Versace coats, Valentino dresses, and my favorite, a 14k gold flashlight by Van Cleef & Arpels.”

A Peek Inside Christie's Elizabeth Taylor Exhibition

Christie's recreates Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry room for the exhibition.

At noon Saturday, the general public will have its first opportunity to view the entire collection of Elizabeth Taylor that will go on auction at Christie’s New York headquarters beginning December 13.

Three outfits worn by Taylor during her Cleopatra days.

Parts of the collection of jewelry, couture, memorabilia, household items and art have been on a world tour. New York is the last stop on the tour prior to the four-day sale. In addition to the live auction, 950 pieces from the collection of more than 2,000 items will be made available in a separate online auction that begins today and will conclude on the same dates as the live auction. All lots will be offered without reserve.

Mike Todd diamond tiara

“All of the items on the online auction have an opening bid of $50,” said Erin McAndrew, head of Communications, Christie’s Americas, who led me through the exhibition Friday. "This allows everyone to participate.”

La Pérégrina -- The Legendary Pearl.

The exhibition ends December 12. This will be the last opportunity to see one of the greatest private collections of jewelry, memorabilia and fashion ever amassed. Tickets are still available and can only be purchased online on Christie’s website.

Cartier ruby and diamond suite and Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond ring. The Cartier pieces were given to Taylor by Mike Todd and the 8.24-carat ruby and diamond ring was a gift from Richard Burton.

For those who have purchased their tickets to the exhibition at Christies Rockefeller Plaza headquarters here’s what to expect.

Wedding dress for first marriage to Richard Burton.

First of all, it’s the first time that Christie’s entire sale and exhibition space will be dedicated to an auction from a private collection. It’s a museum-quality exhibition.

Night of the Iguana brooch by Jean Schlumberger, Tiffany & Co.

The first portion of the space is a hallway dedicated to Taylor’s relationship with Andy Warhol. It includes a lithograph portrait of Taylor and a sketch of lips by the artist. Both were gifts for Taylor. Between them is a thank you note from Taylor to Warhol.

A collection of colorful jewelry pieces organized by Christie's.

On the other side of the passageway there’s a recreation of Taylor’s jewelry closet in her dressing room. Yes, she had a separate room for her jewelry. The original boxes for each piece of jewelry are situated on individual shelves. “Notice all the red boxes,” McAndrew said. “She loved Cartier.” In addition, several boxes were marked with the names of those who gave her the pieces.

A collection of Taylor's watches in a single display case.

Right before entering the main exhibition rooms there are three dresses that were worn by Taylor, two flank each end of the display and one is lifted from the ground with the mannequin’s arms extended. It’s quite a dramatic scene and leads to the first room which is filled with several of Taylor’s signature jewelry pieces.

The Taj Mahal Diamond, Circa 1627 -- 28 with gold and ruby chain by Cartier.

It includes La Peregrina, the pearl, ruby and diamond necklace centered with a 203-grain pear-shaped pearl discovered in the 16th Century as its centerpiece. Taylor and Al Durante of Cartier designed the piece. A collection of diamond and ruby jewelry, including necklace, earrings and bracelet set that was a gift from director Mike Todd, Taylor’s third husband. In the same case is an 8.24-carat ruby and diamond ring that was a Christmas gift from Richard Burton, Taylor’s fifth husband who she married twice. And there are signature sapphires and emerald pieces, many gifts from her husbands that were worn on special occasions, such as the diamond tiara, which she wore to the 1957 Academy Awards, where Todd’s film, Around the World in 80 Days, won for Best Picture.

A room in the exhibition is dedicated to Taylor's acting career, personal life and her humanitarian causes.

From there it became a blur of sparkle as jewelry dominates much of the exhibition. Bulgari, Boucheron, Cartier, JAR, Schlumberger, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels and many more internationally renowned jewelry brands are well represented. It was clear from her collection that Taylor loved colored gems as much as she loved colorless diamonds.

Bob Dylan publicity poster with poem to Taylor.

There’s the 33-carat diamond Asscher Cut diamond ring that was a gift from Richard Burton. It was the ring she wore nearly everyday. The Vacheron Constantin watch and monkey necklace that were gifts from Michael Jackson are included in the exhibit. Then there’s the magnificent Taj Mahal diamond, which comes with a love story nearly four centuries old.

Taylor's handbags are exhibited in a replica of her accessories closet.

Of course, there’s more than jewelry. There’s memorabilia, such as bound copies of movie scripts, a collection of director’s chairs she used during her films and a book she wrote as a child, titled Nibbles and Me. One of the more unusual items is a publicity poster of Bob Dylan, inscribed what could only be described as a love poem to Taylor.

Couture outfits spanning more than 50 years from some of the world's most renowned fashion designers in a dedicated space.

There are her poster collections, furnishings, decorative accessories and a recreation of her accessories closet (yes, she had one of those, too) with shelves filled with designer handbags.

Then there are the outfits—from every major designer spanning more than 50 years of fashion. They are scattered at different areas of the two-story exhibition space but the bulk of her major couture items are located in a dedicated room on the second floor, exhibited in chronological order.

Taylor also had an impressive collection of important old master’s, impressionist and modern art paintings that includes works by Van Gogh, Piassaro and Rembrandt. These paintings while available to view at the exhibition will be sold at a separate auction at Christie’s London in February.

Near the end of the exhibition there’s a room dedicated to Taylor’s life as an actress, an icon and as a humanitarian. It should be noted that a portion of all proceeds from the auction, catalog and related sales will go toward the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

By any measure Elizabeth Taylor lived an extraordinary life and the exhibit is a statement on how she lived. The gifts she received and items she bought for herself were basic and extravagant. She was all American and a contemporary in the way she purchased. She loved things that were big and bold and she never seemed to have enough. However, she also had European and international taste in fashion and design. Her collection shows that when it came to style she was extremely knowledgeable, passionate and compulsive. This collection represents a life well spent. Christie’s presentation of the exhibit makes it seem as if her life’s work was complete.

It’s almost a shame that these items will soon be separated. 

‘Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century’ At Denver Art Museum

Flamingo brooch worn by Duchess of Windsor. Cartier Paris, special order, 1940. Platinum, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, citrine; Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Nils Herrmann

It was the most creative time for what is arguably the supreme international jeweler of the 20th Century.

Necklace worn by Elizabeth Taylor. Cartier Paris, 1951, altered in 1953. Platinum, diamonds, rubies. Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Vincent Wulveryck

The Denver Art Museum is the sole venue worldwide for “Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century,” on view till March 15, 2015. The exhibition contains more than 250 pieces of jewelry, timepieces and precious objects produced between 1900 and 1975. Most of the pieces are from the jeweler’s “Cartier Collection,” with items on loan from other museums and private collections.

Tiara worn by Mrs. Townsend Cartier. Cartier Paris, special order, 1905. Platinum, diamonds; Height at center 9.8 cm. Provenance: Mary Scott Townsend and Mrs. Donald McElroy. Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Vincent Wulveryck

Curated by Margaret Young-Sánchez, curator of the museum’s Frederick and Jan Mayer Center, the exhibition celebrates and chronicles the creative rise of Cartier in the 20th Century and its place in the dynamic history of the period.

Necklace worn by Countess of Granard. Cartier London, special order, 1932. Platinum, diamonds, emerald; Cartier Collection.  Photo credit: Vincent Wulveryck

It was a time when old world royalty was being replaced by democratically elected governments and when captains of industry, world class entertainers and a handful of politicians stood on equal terms with the old aristocracy. Cartier stood at the intersection of this cultural change and took a leadership role, creating jewelry, timepieces and objects of art for some of the most important and famous people of the period. The exhibition has items belonging to the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace of Monaco, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Mexican film star María Félix.

Engagement Ring worn by Princess Grace of Monaco.Cartier Paris, 1956. Platinum, one 10.48-carat emerald-cut diamond, two baguette- cut diamonds. Palais Princier de Monaco 

This is an exhibition for those who cherish Cartier’s most creative period when it was a family-owned firm (family members sold the business in 1964).

Crocodile Necklace made for Maria Félix.Cartier Paris, special order, 1975. Gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies; Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Nick Welsh

“The evolution of Cartier takes us on a journey through 20th century history, from the era of the last czars in Russia to the Roaring ’20s in America to the onset of Hollywood glamour as we know it,” said Christoph Heinrich, director of the Frederick and Jan Mayer Center. “Focusing in on the creativity and pioneering vision of the Cartier brothers and their designers, visitors will walk away not only in awe of Cartier’s stunning works of art but also aware of the drastic cultural shifts that took place throughout the history of the maison.”

Laurel Leaf Tiara owned by Marie Bonaparte. Cartier Paris, 1907. Platinum and diamonds. Qatar Museums Authority.

Cartier’s international clientele reflected the rapid changes of the 20th Century. The jeweler’s rise took place in the context of an increasingly cosmopolitan cultural scene and aligned with international social, political and economic trends. The exhibition will present a selection of themes that span time periods and styles to display the influence and innovation of the jeweler.  

Tiger Lorgnette owned by Duchess of Windsor. Cartier Paris, special order, 1954. Gold, enamel, emeralds, glass. Cartier Collection.  Photo credit: Nick Welsh

Exhibition themes include: 

* Aristocracy and Aspiration: Focusing on objects from 1900–1918, this section features diamond, sapphire, rock crystal and pearl jewelry and enameled decorative items that showcase a refined and elegant aesthetic embraced by European royalty and aristocrats—and the wealthy Americans who aspired to join their social class. 

Stomacher Brooch, Cartier Paris, special order, 1907. Platinum, sapphires, diamonds. Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Nick Welsh

* Art Deco: New Outlook: Cartier was a leader in the Art Deco movement of the 1910s to 1920s that highlighted a bold look with a new emphasis on color and geometry. The firm used new materials in this era such as jade, coral and black onyx.

Necklace created for Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala. Cartier Paris, special order, 1928. Platinum, diamonds, zirconias, topazes, synthetic rubies, smoky quartz, citrine; Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Nick Welsh  

* Art Deco: Foreign Fascination: After World War I, Cartier created original designs that incorporated exotic styles and materials including imported carved jade, lacquer and faience. This style culminated in the colorful tutti-frutti jewelry and sculptural mystery clocks. 

Tutti Frutti Strap Bracelet worn by Mrs. Cole Porter.Cartier Paris, 1929. Platinum, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies. Cartier Collection.  Photo credit: Nick Welsh

* Masculine View: Louis Cartier is credited with inventing the modern men’s wristwatch. The exhibition includes numerous models and styles, in addition to elegant and complex pocket watches, cuff links, pocket items, cocktail and desk accessories, and inscribed cigarette cases. Historic events commemorated by inscribed gift items made by Cartier are featured in the exhibition. 

Santos wristwatch, Cartier Paris, 1915. Gold, sapphire, leather strap. Cartier Collection. Photo credit: Nick Welsh

* Art of Smoking: Textured, enameled and jeweled cigar cutters, cigarette cases and lighters from 1907 through the 1940s. 

Five-Dial Clock owned by Franklin D. Roosevelt.Cartier New York, 1930. Ebonite, silver, nephrite, enamel, clock movement. Private collection. 

* Age of Glamour: Designs from the 1930s to 1960s preferred by celebrities and “Café Society.”  

Set of Three Clip Brooches worn by Princess Grace of Monaco. Cartier Paris, 1955. Platinum, brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds, three cabochon rubies weighing approximately 49 carats. Palais Princier de Monaco.  

More photographs from the exhibition can be viewed by following this link. 

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