The auction of Brigitte Bardot's objects brings in nearly a million euros

The auction of 285 personal objects and souvenirs of Brigitte Bardot brought in nearly 954,000 euros including fees on Monday, almost twenty times the estimate, announced the Millon auction house. Straw hats, glasses, nightgowns, crockery and furniture, coming from La Madrague and La Garrigue, his houses in Saint-Tropez (south-east), and his Parisian apartment, have aroused great enthusiasm.

The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and to Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, only son of the star who died at the age of 91 in December. Some 3,000 French and international bidders registered for this sale. It took place after five days of exhibition at the Drouot hotel in Paris, which attracted around 15,000 people.

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“Brigitte Bardot will have been, once again, a formidable alchemist: she transformed some 50,000 euros of estimates into nearly a million euros including fees,” commented auctioneer Alexandre Millon. Two dog collars of the ex-actress, with an identification tag in her name and La Madrague's telephone number, estimated at 30 euros each, were sold for 9,400 euros to a Russian buyer.

“His fight continues through these auctions”

A self-portrait was sold for nearly 40,000 euros, while the typewriter with which she wrote an autobiography went for 4,634 euros. Estimated between 300 and 500 euros, two of his guitars sold for 8,600 and 11,900 euros. Estimated at 30 euros, a set of three soft toys representing baby seals, Brigitte Bardot's favorite animal, went for almost 2,200 euros.

“This sale is the logical continuation of the one she herself organized in 1987 with her most precious objects to create her foundation. Today, his fight continues through these auctions,” Ghyslaine Calmels, general director of the Bardot Foundation, told AFP after the sale. Two days before this sale, Bernard d'Ormale, Brigitte Bardot's last husband, judged that she was "scandalous".

He assured that he had not been informed of this, which the foundation disputed. The latter claimed that it had been voted on in June, including by Bernard d'Ormale who was then the president of its board of directors. The foundation boasts 13,000 animals collected in four shelters and 150 partner pensions, 350 associations supported in France, actions in 70 countries, more than 1000 dogs and cats up for adoption.