Elizabeth Taylor collection touring before NY sale

[June 29, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Elizabeth Taylor's collection of jewelry, art, designer clothing and other memorabilia will go on an international three-month tour before it is sold in New York in December, Christie's auction house announced Wednesday.

The tour will begin in September and include stops in Moscow, London, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. It will end in New York, where Christie's plans a "museum-quality exhibition" of the late actress' collection that will fill its entire gallery space from Dec. 3 to Dec. 10.

The auction will be held over four days on Dec. 13-16.

Taylor, who was infamously married eight times to seven husbands, was also known for her passion for opulent diamonds. She died in March at age 79.

She published a book in 2003 titled "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry," and her collection has included some of the world's most expensive stones.

A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition admissions and publications related to the sales will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

The screen icon's impressionist and modern art collection will be sold at Christie's in London in February.

In April, Christie's announced that it had reached an agreement with Taylor's family to sell her prized jewelry collection, as well as her art, clothing, accessories and other memorabilia.

Further details of the sales, exhibitions and tour dates will be announced in the fall.

[Associated Press]

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