Elizabeth Taylor wearing La Peregrina, Art & Antiques, October 1997?
Diego Velasquez, Queen Isabel of Bourbon (wearing La Peregrina), 1634-35, Courtesy Museo del Prado
Also see, The Other Jewels in Elizabeth Taylor’s Life
As reported by The Artnewspaper, one of the most outstanding objects sold at the Christie’s auction of the late Elizabeth Taylor jewelry collection was La Pérégrina, a pearl that once belonged to Mary I of England. The piece was presented to her by Philip II of Spain at the time of their marriage, in 1554. The pearl, having returned to Spain after Mary’s death, was given to Queen Isabel whose equestrian portrait was painted by Velazquez while wearing La Pérégrina. The piece was ultimately purchased by Richard Burton, Taylor’s fifth husband, at Sotheby’s in 1969 for a notable price of $37,000. The pearl including the necklace was estimated $2-3 million, for Tuesday’s auction; it sold for $11,842,500 including buyer’s premium.
Not losing track of the real gems in Taylor’s life, her cinematic legacy, here is a look at the late actress – wearing La Pérégrina - performing the role of Desiree Armfeldt in the 1977 adaptation of A Little Night Music directed by Harold Prince.
