USA: Items belonging to Mexican film legend Maria Felix to be auctioned in New York

Record ID: 190283

  • Title: USA: Items belonging to Mexican film legend Maria Felix to be auctioned in New York
  • Date: 20th July 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish), GABRIELA NOVO, CHRISTIE'S REGIONAL DIRECTOR - MEXICO, SAYING: "It's a very varied group. It starts with Latin America - particularly Mexico. We also have clients who are interested in the south like Argentina and Brazil and Ecuador and evidently countries in Europe - France and Italy. We also have clients in the United States who are interested and we hope to have clients in the Middle East interested."
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAC1582XGK5FYDIZJ7DO62JO29H
  • Story Text: Mexican screen siren Maria Felix's items previewed at Christie's auction house in New York City. The items include paintings, furniture, clothing and more.

    Items belonging to Mexican screen star Maria Felix were previewed for the media at Christie's New York on Friday (July 13), ahead of an auction scheduled for July 17 and 18.
    The items, ranging from paintings to porcelain, clothing and furniture comprise the contents of Felix's two homes, one in Mexico City, the other in Cuernavaca. Felix died in April of 2002 at the age of 88.
    "It is a very, very big collection. There are 607 lots. There are paintings, sculptures, furniture, porcelain, silver, clothes, awards and jewelry, as well," said Gabriela Novo, Christie's Regional Director - Mexico.
    The piece that is expected to fetch the highest bid is the large-scale surrealist painting "Maja del Tarot", by Leonora Carrington. It is a double portrait of Felix in the guise of a tarot card, commissioned by the star in 1965 and is estimated to sell for 500,000 to 700,000 U.S. dollars. Another painting by Carrington, a triptych entitled "Sueno de Sirenas" is also a hot item for sale. But the auction is not only for serious art collectors, it's also for fans of the legendary star. For 250-400 U.S. dollars, they can purchase hats or small pieces of Jacob Petit porcelain that belonged to Felix. "She also has what is probably the largest collection of Jacob Petit porcelain to come to market. She sort of started collecting it on a whim and amassed hundreds and hundreds of incredible, very ornate, very decorative pieces," said Cathy Elkes, Business Strategist for Christie's. One of the most valued Jacob Petit pieces is a set of four gold-ground Neo-Rococo topographical vases and stands.
    The sale also includes furniture like a gilt-metal and Meissen porcelain secretaire cabinet from the late 19th century expected to fetch 100,000 - 200,000 U.S. dollars and a charcoal portrait of Felix holding a baby in her arms by Diego Rivera. Due to repatriation laws, the portrait must stay in Mexico.
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