NEW YORK.- The directors of Christie’s are honored to announce that their firm has been selected as the auction house of record by film legend, philanthropist, HIV/AIDS activist and designer Dame Elizabeth Taylor. Through this exclusive partnership, all of her future auctions of jewelry, paintings, collectibles, furnishings, clothing and memorabilia will be offered exclusively through Christie’s. All sales dates will be established by Dame Elizabeth in consultation with a team of Christie’s specialists.

In May Christie’s, Dame Elizabeth Taylor and House of Taylor House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTJ) announced that selected jewels inspired by the legendary icon would be offered at auction by Christie’s in New York, Hong Kong and Geneva. The specially designed jewels will be provided to Christie’s exclusively through House of Taylor Jewelry. The first exclusive and unique creations to be sold by Christie’s will be featured in the October 11, 2006 Magnificent Jewels auction in New York. Dame Elizabeth will attend a celebration with Christie’s later this fall.

Dame Elizabeth said, “Christie’s is a most honorable firm. I have enjoyed their integrity and commitment to excellence for many years. Their decision to support my work for people with HIV/AIDS and my love affair with jewelry through House of Taylor Jewelry makes the extension of this relationship exciting. I hope the jewelry I have inspired and in other instances designed will bring joy to others in the upcoming auctions. Beautiful things never belong to anyone. We are all temporary custodians of beauty…. When the items I’ve collected are cared for by other people I hope they will be loved and respected in a sharing way — eventually, they will be passed on to others….but not too soon!”

“We are honored to be selected by Dame Elizabeth as a partner in this long-term and important endeavor,” said Stephen Lash, Chairman, Christie’s Americas. “This marks a fantastic continuation of our many years of work with this stunning film legend, humanitarian and designer. We are thrilled to work with her again through this new, strategic engagement.”

“It continues to be a great personal and professional honor to work with Dame Elizabeth, one of the most revered artists and humanitarians of our time,” said Francois Curiel, Chairman, Christie’s Europe, and International Head of Jewelry. “I have been privileged to participate as auctioneer in numerous historic fund-raising events organized to benefit amfAR and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. During conversations over the years, I was able to appreciate her extraordinary knowledge of gemstones and jewels, and her keen interest in jewelry design. This passion and the intensely personal quality of her collection set it apart from all others. She is without doubt one of the world’s greatest private collectors of superb jewelry - a legend in this area as well."

A history of collaboration - Christie’s has been engaged with Dame Elizabeth’s philanthropic activities since 1999, when it auctioned the gown she wore to the 1969 Academy Awards. The gown sold for $150,000, at that time making it the second highest price ever paid for dress at auction. Proceeds from the sale of it and 55 other dresses worn to Academy Awards over four decades generated a total of $786,120 to benefit the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). Dame Elizabeth helped start amfAR in 1985, and is its International Founding Chairman.

In 2002, Christie's New York auctioned nine pieces of jewelry donated by Dame Elizabeth for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which she established in 1991. The event's centerpiece, a diamond and emerald ring that was Richard Burton's first gift to the actress. The auction was held in conjunction with the publication of her book, "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry." Some of the notable jewels in the collection included the 33 carat Krupp Diamond ring, La Peregrina pearl (a Valentine present from Richard Burton), an antique diamond tiara (a gift from Mike Todd), Taj Mahal heart shaped yellow diamond necklace (a gift from Richard Burton), the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, a 29 carat diamond ring (a gift from Mike Todd), the pear shaped 69 carat Taylor-Burton diamond and the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds.

About Dame Elizabeth Taylor - Elizabeth Taylor is the star of more than fifty-five films, among them National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Butterfield 8, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Cleopatra. For nearly two decades, she has been a leader in HIV/AIDS activism, including her founding role in the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and establishment of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). In 2005, she established the Elizabeth Taylor Endowment Fund at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

She has also been an extraordinarily successful businesswoman with her bestselling line of fragrances. The recipient of numerous honors and awards, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in the year 2000. In 1987, France bestowed upon her its most prestigious award, the Legion d’Honneur, and in 2001 President Clinton recognized her with the Presidential Citizen’s Medal. In 2002, Miss Taylor received a Kennedy Center Honor for an extraordinary lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts. She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, and in 1993 she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her work on behalf of HIV/AIDS. She also received the BAFTA Fellowship from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. She received the Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in International Entertainment from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship in 2005. Dame Elizabeth is the majority shareholder of House of Taylor Jewelry, Inc., an international jewelry company which began trading on NASDAQ on March 1, 2006 under the ticker symbol “HOTJ.”

Elizabeth Taylor lives in Bel Air, California. She has four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.