A lavish dressing room built for Elizabeth Taylor is expected to sell with a high estimate of $50,000 at a June 23 auction of Hollywood memorabilia.
 $75,000 of Cleopatra's $44m budget |
Despite the high estimate, the trailer provides great value for collectors. Twentieth Century Fox reportedly spent $75,000 creating the extravagant dressing room for the star ahead of the filming of Cleopatra, which translates to $560,000 in today's money.
The 36-foot dressing room bears all the characteristics of Taylor's less than modest taste, with half columns and garish murals of country manor houses decorating the walls. Unfortunately, the original round bed on which Taylor and her then husband Richard Burton would have slept was removed over 40 years ago and replaced with a queen-sized version.
Following the release of Cleopatra in 1963, millionaire financier Nicholas Salgo, who had helped source funding for the film, negotiated with the studio and eventually managed to keep the massive trailer. It was then parked in his Oregon ranch for almost 20 years, before being sold to the current owner and consignor who had it displayed in his Lakeview Fantastic Museum.
For those who don't share the film's vast budget, the auction is also offering a selection of props from Cleopatra, with varying estimates of around $500. Also featuring are a selection of autographed photographs of the star in some of her more notable roles.
Following her death in 2011, memorabilia relating to Elizabeth Taylor has rocketed in value. A gold cape worn by the actress in Cleopatra soared above estimate to achieve $59,375 in April this year.
View our top five Elizabeth Taylor collectibles here.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb range of celebrity memorabilia currently on offer, including this basque worn by another lady who commands astronomical results at auction, Madonna.
