Elizabeth Taylor 'monster' photograph to bring $18,000?

An image of Elizabeth Taylor, by a photographer who described her as a monster, could make $18,000+

A photograph of Elizabeth Taylor and her twice husband Richard Burton is expected to bring £8,000-12,000 at a UK auction house on May 22.

The couple described as vulgar and crass

The striking photograph was taken by celebrity photographer Cecil Beaton in 1971 at the home of one of America's richest families, the Rothschilds.

Yet Beaton later confessed in his diary: "I have always loathed the Burtons for their vulgarity, commonness and crass bad taste," adding: "She wanted compliments. She got none. I felt I must be professional and continued, but not without loathing at this monster."

Beaton soon gave the unwanted photograph to his friend Brian Hammond, owner of Gerry's nightclub in Soho, London, where it hung until he died earlier this year.

The value of Elizabeth Taylor memorabilia has rocketed since her death in 2011. The Christie's auction of her estate realised a total of $156.7m in New York in December last year.

The sale also set several new records including the most valuable sale of jewellery in auction history and the most valuable private collection of fashion ever sold. Six items in the sale sold for over $5m, a testament to the star's lavish lifestyle.

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The fantastic photograph will be joined by an incredibly rare reversed image of the Beatles, taken from the Abbey Road album cover shoot.

PFC Auctions has a brilliant selection of Hollywood memorabilia in its current sale. This signed photograph of Ringo Starr offers great value with a minimum bid of £200.

Recent and related articles

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·  Great Collections - The Dreier memorabilia collection | 9 May 2012

·  Jerry Garcia-played guitar a resounding success at $62,500 | 9 May 2012

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Images: Bloomsbury Auctions