Showing posts with label Taylors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taylors. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor's Bel Air Estate Sells

Elizabeth Taylor’s estate in Bel Air, Calif., which was listed May 20 for $8.6 million, has just sold to an undisclosed buyer.

The property sold in 33 days, according to an e-mail announcement from listing agent David Mossler of Teles Properties. The purchase counts as a quick sale in L.A.’s residential real estate market, which is still in the doldrums.

The purchase price was not immediately known.

STORY: Elizabeth Taylor’s Bel Air Estate Revealed

The actress bought the home -- a four-bedroom house set on a wooded property -- in the early 1980s.

The gated 1.27-acre estate includes a bricked motor court and swimming pool. The house is 7,000 square feet and featured a galley-like country kitchen, powder room and maid’s quarters on the lower floor, with a master suite with adjacent dressing room on the second floor.

The garden features the climbing rose “Cecile Brunner,” which climbs over an arbor, while the hybrid tea rose Elizabeth Taylor, introduced in 1985, grows nearby.

STORY: Elizabeth Taylor's House on Market for $8.6 Million

Before she died in March, Taylor let Architectural Digest into her home to shoot the interiors and gardens, which are featured in the magazine’s July issue.

The magazine described the house as being designed for family and enjoyment.

“Of course when she had to appear at an important event, she would put on the most beautiful dress and the most amazing jewelry and become Elizabeth Taylor, the star,” fashion designer Valentino told Architectural Digest. “But at home she liked a cozy life, friends, good food.

Almost every room in the house — which was redecorated in 2010 by Waldo Fernandez, who has also done interiors for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — was done in blues and lavenders, which evoked the color of Taylor’s legendary violet eyes.

STORY: Elizabeth Taylor's 5 Most Famous Jewels

The furnishings include a Franz Hals portrait, Impressionist paintings, Taylor’s three Oscars and Irene Sharaff sketches of the costumes for the actress’ 1968 film Doctor Faustus with Richard Burton.

Elizabeth's son Christopher Wilding recently said of the property: "(The house was) where we all gathered, especially at Thanksgiving and Easter. ... She never entertained the notion of moving."

Mossler could not immediately be reached for comment.

Email: Degen.Pener@THR.com


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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Elizabeth Taylor's 5 Most Famous Jewels

Elizabeth Taylor

Fans of Elizabeth Taylor will soon have a chance to own a piece of the famed actress' expansive jewelry, art and clothing collection. 

Christie's auction house said Wednesday that personal items owned by the star, who died March 23 of congestive heart failure at the age of 79, will be sold in a series of auctions starting in December. 

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Taylor in pictures

Prior to the sale, Taylor's jewelry, fashion, art and memorabilia will go on a three-month worldwide tour, with exhibitions in L.A., Moscow, London, Dubai, Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong. The   collection's final stop will be a 10 day exhibition at Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters beginning December 3 to be followed by a four-day auction Dec. 13-16. A portion of the auction's proceeds will go to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation 

RELATED: Elizabeth Taylor's House for Sale

Here are the five of Taylor's most impressive jewels. 

1. The Taylor-Burton Diamond: Probably the most famous of Taylor's baubles, Taylor's fifth husband, Cleopatra co-star Richard Burton, purchased the 69.42-karat diamond from Cartier in 1969. It was then re-named after the pair.

2. The Krupp Diamond: Burton bought his love the 33.19-karat diamond for $305,000 in May 1968. It became one of the actress' fashion staples, which she wore nearly every day. 

PHOTOS: Elizabeth Taylor's Many Loves

3. La Peregina: One of Taylor's most famous pearls (another gift from Burton), the jewel is also the former property of both Anne Boleyn and Queen Mary Tudor of England. Shortly after she got it, the pear-shaped pearl was almost eaten by one of her dogs. 

4. Antique diamond tiara: a gift from third husband, Mike Todd, the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof actress, wore it often during the pair's 13 month marriage, famously to the 1956 Academy Awards. 

5. The Taj Mahal necklace: Burton also gifted his wife with the 16th century historical piece. He had the necklace inscribed "to by beloved Mahal." 


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