Cape worn by Elizabeth Taylor in "Cleopatra" sold - Chicago Tribune

By Marice Richter

DALLAS, March 31 (Reuters) - A gold cape worn by Hollywood

icon Elizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film "Cleopatra" sold at
auction for $59,375 in Dallas on Friday.

The cape had been wrapped in tissue and stored in a cedar
closet for years, the female owner of the garment told officials
at Heritage Auctions.

The owner, who asked not to be identified, said her mother
had acquired the cape from the now defunct Western Costume
company sometime after the film's premiere.

The woman's mother had worked in the couture fashion
industry, Heritage officials said. The woman told officials at
the auction house that she had never mentioned or showed the
cape to anyone.

But after the actress died on March 23, 2011, she decided to
reintroduce it to the world.

The cape was designed to resemble the wings of a Phoenix. It
is constructed of gold painted leather with hand-stitched gold
beads and sequins. Taylor wore the cape in two scenes in the
movie. The cape was expected to sell for $20,000 at auction.

"Taylor was featured in countless newspaper and magazine
articles wearing this cape," Margaret Barrett, director of
entertainment and music memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, said
in a statement.

"This piece is the epitome of glamorous and it was worn by
one of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies at the very peak of
her fame, power and beauty," she said.

(Editing by Greg McCune)