Liz Taylor's Cleopatra cape sold for $59K

DALLAS, March 30 (UPI) -- The gold cape Elizabeth Taylor wore in the 1963 epic "Cleopatra" was sold for $59,375 in Dallas, Heritage Auctions said Friday.

The costume piece was bought by an anonymous East Coast collector.

The consignor of the cape, who also wished to remain anonymous, said her mother worked in the couture fashion industry and purchased the garment from the Western Costume company.

"I never mentioned it or showed it to anyone," the consignor said in a statement. "When Elizabeth Taylor passed away recently I thought of the magnificent cape and realized that it was time for the cape to find its way out into the world."

"This piece is the epitome of glamorous and it was worn by one of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies at the very peak of her fame, power and beauty," said Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music memorabilia at Heritage Auctions, "an artifact of the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. Collectors responded to all of those things in driving it up to the final $59,375 price. It's worth every penny."

Taylor died last year at age 79.