It’s been 50 years since Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra’s, Twentieth Century Fox film came to life. It was during this same time Taylor’s love affair began with Bulgari jewelry who designed many of the jewels she wore in her film epic.
“The only word Elizabeth knew in Italian was Bulgari.” ~ Richard Burton
In her honor one of her magnificent jewels will be displayed in New York on December 11th at Sotheby’s auction house where all proceeds will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Bulgari, 18 Karat Gold Spinel, Turquoise and Diamond Earrings
proceeds go to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
Taylor started (ETAF) in 1991 to raise funds and awareness to help fight the HIV/AIDS virus. Her dream was to provide assistance for those living with this terrible disease and she made sure her foundation was focused on direct care, prevention and assistance for those living with this terrible disease. ETAF personal goal was to spread awareness around the world.
“It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance. ”
— ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Taylor died in March of 2011 at the age of 79 but her legacy continually lives on though the efforts of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Taylor’s exceptional role in Cleopatra, has also inspired Sotheby’s auction house to display the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun obsession for all things Egyptian, including a line of jewels designed by Cartier.
In this rare Egyptian jewelry display they will be introducing a most significant fan-shaped brooch, joined by the fates with four jewels of the same genre and period, formerly in the collection of Russian-born socialite Lady Abdy.
This unique masterpieces of the Art Deco period, these powerful jewels, all made by Cartier in the 1920s, turn a spotlight on the 1920s high demand for Egyptian-inspired pieces.
Egyptian-revival faience and jeweled brooch, Cartier, London, circa 1923.
Included will be this figural brooch in Lady Abdy’s collection. The Lion Goddess, also depicted in the fan brooch, dating to the 21st-22nd Dynasty; 1075-716 BC. Here she is holding a papyrus scepter, and the sun disc, her attribute, above and behind her head, created in diamonds, colored gems and black enamel. One design sets Sekhmet against a gem-set curving lotus flower, on a semi-circular base; the other against the brickwork, presumably in lapis lazuli, of a Temple gate shrine.
Rare and Important 18 Karat Gold, Platinum, Faience, Diamond, Colored Stone
and Enamel ‘Sekhmet’ Brooch, Cartier, Paris
After 1922, Cartier began to incorporate antiquities into their Egyptian-style jewels, and this second stage of Egyptian revival designs continued into the mid- to late 1920s, producing a spectacular series of one-of-a-kind masterpieces.
The “Tutankhamen” Influence in Modern Jewelry
To learn more of these magnificent jewels visit Sotheby’s Highlights from their Magnificent Jewels collect.
Filed under: Auctions, Diamonds, Fashion & Jewelry Tagged: AIDS Foundation, Auction, Egyptian things, Elizabeth Taylor, Jewelry, Magnificent Jewels, NEW YORK
