Cynthia — Interior Design Hound

Elizabeth Taylor Dame, Dogs and Diamonds: Part Deux

In celebration of the upcoming auction of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie’s in New York, I’ve been taking a look Dame Elizabeth’s love life.

Elizabeth Taylor Dog Kisses

No, I’m not talking about her husbands: Hilton-Wilding-Todd-Fisher-Burton-Burton-Warner-& Fortensky…

Her four-legged loves! Elizabeth Taylor’s loving & loyal Dogs.

By the 1960’s, Elizabeth Taylor had moved on from the fashionable Dog of the fifties, the Poodle, to Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Yorkies.

Elizabeth Taylor, Dog & Eddie Fisher

Is it just me, or does the Dog Elizabeth Taylor is holding in the car with Eddie Fisher look more like a Silky Terrier than a Yorkshire Terrier?

Eddie Fisher was history by 1964, but the Pup stayed in the actress’s life.

After all, ~~Diamonds~~ Dogs are a girl’s best friend!

Here’s the cute little Yorkie with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton…

Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor with Yorkie

Notice the ring on Elizabeth’s hand? I’m sure it weighs more than the Yorkie!

“My Mother says I didn’t open my eyes until eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked!” Elizabeth Taylor

Richard Burton fetched the “fab” diamond ring for Elizabeth Taylor in 1968:

The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, aka the Krupp

While Richard Burton paid $305,000 for the whopping 33.19 carat diamond in 1968, Christie’s has placed an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,000,000 on the diamond ring for the upcoming auction of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor.

I promise you it will fetch more.

Dame Elizabeth & Richard Burton were quite a match.

Pekingese in tow, Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

The jet setting couple took their Dogs everywhere.

Ski Holiday for Dogs: Shih Tzu & Pekingese

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

Quarintine for Dame Elizabeth’s Dogs? Forgetaboutit!

The yacht Beatrice of Bolivia became the world’s most expensive Dog kennel when the couple had it moored on the Thames River to avoid British quarantine regulations.

The poor pooches couldn’t leave the yacht.

Below, Elizabeth’s Shih Tzu “Tacht” watches the media frenzy ashore…

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton’s Yachting Dogs

Elizabeth Taylor picked up her fashion sense while making films in Hollywood from the likes of award-winning costume designer Edith Head.

Elizabeth Taylor walking her Dog

Elizabeth was a pedigreed Fashion Hound, wearing couture long before “fashion stylists” existed in Hollywood.

Dame Elisabeth loved her Dogs & Diamonds.

This little Pup of Elizabeth’s is sitting on a freshwater pearl…

Elizabeth Taylor’s Dog Brooch, Lot # 1444

The gold & diamond Dog Brooch with ruby eyes is expected to fetch $2000-$4000 in Christie’s online auction of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor. Bidding starts December 3^rd.

Stay tuned…

Later, I’ve got to let the Dog out,

You can take a peek at a few of the fashions, accessories & jewelry pieces from Christie’s upcoming auction The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor in a short video, here.

Looking for Part 1?

You’ll find Elizabeth Taylor’s Golden Retrievers, Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Fox Terriers, Dachshunds & Poodles here.

Want more? Check out what we dug up...

Elizabeth Taylor: The Dame Loved Dogs as well as Diamonds

Dogs of Elizabeth Taylor: Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels & Poodles.

Pekingese DOGS: The Party Animals of High Society, Design and Style

High Society Pekingese: Art Deco Dogs of Fashion and Interior Design Hounds

Is Your DOG Looking for New Digs? Check Out This Architectural DOG CASTLE Up for Auction at Christie’s!

Antique Dog Castle up for Auction at Christie's.

Elsie de Wolfe: Passion for Pekingese

Top Dog of Interior Design Elsie de Wolfe's passion for the Pekingese.

Best in Show: Part Deux

Best in Show Dog wallpaper shows up in all the right places.

Elizabeth Taylor: The Dame Loved Dogs as well

Pekingese DOGS: The Party Animals of High Society,

Is Your DOG Looking for New Digs?

Elsie de Wolfe: Passion for Pekingese

Best in Show: Part Deux

Elizabeth Taylor: The Dame Loved Dogs as well as Diamonds

Elizabeth Taylor: “Celebrated film star, fashion icon and humanitarian,” says the Christie’s catalog for the upcoming auction of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor.

The actress was also a life-long Dog lover.

Elizabeth Taylor & Puppy Dog, 1944

Dame Elizabeth’s first Dog (or should I say Elizabeth Taylor-Hilton-Wilding-Todd-Fisher-Burton-Burton-Warner-Fortensky’s first Dog?) was a Golden Retriever named Monty.

Elizabeth Taylor skyrocketed to fame as a child, starring in MGM movies with Dogs & horses as co-stars: Lassie Come Home (1943), National Velvet (1945) and Courage of Lassie (1946).

Later in life Elizabeth Taylor would say, “Some of my best leading men have been Dogs and horses.”

In the 1945 MGM publicity still for National Velvet seen below; 12 year-old Elizabeth Taylor has an adorable Fox Terrier at her side. (Photographer: Clarence Bull.)

Elizabeth Taylor & Fox Terrier, 1945

Dogs were more than mere co-stars of Elizabeth’s, they were her childhood companions.

As a child, Elizabeth Taylor had a kennel of four-legged best friends:

Spot, a Springer Spaniel
Monty, a Golden Retriever
Twinkle & Amy, Cocker Spaniels

Elizabeth Taylor’s Dogs, sit for a treat. Spot, Twinkle & Monty

Elizabeth Taylor named her Golden Cocker Spaniel “Amy”, after her role in the movie adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women in 1949.

Elizabeth Taylor’s Dogs get a Bath

I’ve also found several photographs of a young Elizabeth with Dachshunds, but I’m unsure if they were her pets. (Anyone know?)

I do know later in life, after the filming of Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor presented Richard Burton with an entire litter of Doxies!

Dachshunds & Elizabeth Taylor

Of course, by the 1950’s the Poodle was the Top Dog. Elizabeth Taylor shared her life with several of the fashionable Hounds.

Poodle Loving Elizabeth Taylor

At the age of 18, Elizabeth married hotel heir Nicky Hilton.

Elizabeth Taylor & Nicky Hilton returned from their honeymoon aboard the Queen Elizabeth on August 21, 1950 with a souvenir from Paris:

Banco, a Miniature Poodle.

Elizabeth Taylor’s Honeymoon Poodle

While Nicky Hilton would only be in Elizabeth Taylor’s life for another five months or so, Banco the Poodle stayed much longer…

about four marriages longer!

Elizabeth Taylor’s Poodle Dress

As a Fashion Hound, Elizabeth was always stylishly groomed…note the Poodle print dress.

Her passion for Poodles was followed by her passion for jewelry which was well documented in her dazzling book Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry in 2002.

The Dame loved Dogs & dazzling diamonds.