Paris, France — A wicker armchair, an Olivetti tyepwriter, a bottle of Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue Eau de Cologne, a Flamenco guitar. Everyday objects of anyone’s day. Except these objects belonged to the icon Brigitte Bardot, world-renowned actress and dedicated animal rights activist.  They were sold in Paris last September 21st by the French auction house Millon. All of the lots sold, bringing in over 1 million dollars, surpassing by far the US$55,000 estimate. The proceeds will go to her estate which benefits the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier. The star founded her foundation which protects animals and fights for animal rights in 1986 and financed it with an auction of some of her personal belongings, including her jewels, in 1987. Auctioneer Alexandre Millon symbolically held the hammer used by François Tajan for this first auction held nearly 30 years ago and loaned for the event. Today the foundation created by Brigitte Bardot is active in 70 countries and welcomes some 13,000 animals in its four sanctuaries and partner organizations. Sales totalled US$1 086167.16 (953, 531euros ), nearly 20 times the estimate with some 3,000 bidders taking part in the auction which lasted over nine hours. Notably the Olivetti typewriter — Brigitte Bardot was a legendary letter writer and personally answered her correspondence— was estimated at US$228/342 (200/300 euros) and ultimately sold for US$5,278.59 (4,634 euros). The legacy of the ballet dancer turned actress turned animal rights activist decidedly lives on.   ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette For additional information and to make a donation : https://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/