Brigitte Bardot's belongings are sold at auction in Paris, fetching more than 953 thousand euros

A collection of the late French actress Brigitte Bardot's belongings was put up for sale at a public auction held at the Drouot Hotel in the French capital, Paris, and achieved more than 953 thousand euros, equivalent to 1.09 million dollars, according to a post by the Mellon auction house on Instagram.

The auction included about 300 pieces of Bardot's collectibles, including her own copy of the book "Kama Sutra", along with a number of ballet shoes associated with her famous looks, diamond-studded rings, and pictures of herself, as well as the typewriter she used to write her autobiography.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the humane society that was the focus of its work in its final years, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

Ghislaine Calmels, the foundation's general director, said in a statement issued ahead of the auction that the exhibited items were among the things that Bardot particularly loved, as they were associated with what she described as her "second life." She added that collecting these collectibles together allows a glimpse into a personal aspect of the late star's life, and also reflects the extent of her commitment to defending animal rights.

For his part, Alexander Mellon said that the auction house has had a close relationship with Bardot and its foundation over three decades.

He added in a statement that the house is proud to continue working on the basis of the cause to which Bardot has dedicated her life, namely defending the rights of animals.

Why did her husband object to the auction?

Despite the attention the auction received, the move faced criticism from Bardot's husband, Bernard Dormal, who said that these belongings were personal, questioning the feasibility of holding an auction for them, and pointing out that the foundation owns properties that it could sell one of, instead of selling Bardot's belongings.

Bardot achieved widespread fame during the 1950s and 1960s, through bold roles that aroused public interest and criticism from conservative parties, as happened in the film “Contempt” by French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard.

It enjoyed remarkable success in the United States and contributed to the spread of foreign films, at a time when Hollywood censorship imposed strict restrictions on dealing with sexual topics and the appearance of nudity.