Full Breakdown
Brigitte Bardet’s Personal Belongings Set for Auction in Paris
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Upcoming Auction of Bardot’s Estate
A collection of personal items that belonged to the late French actress and animal-rights activist Brigitte Bardot will be sold at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris on Monday, September 21. The sale, organized by the Millon auction house, will feature roughly 285 lots drawn from Bardot’s Paris flat on Rue de la Tour and her Saint-Tropez residences, La Madrague and La Garrigue. Proceeds are earmarked for the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and for her only son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.
Background & Context – Bardot’s legacy and foundation
Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s, most famously for *And God Created Woman* (1956). After retiring from acting in the early 1970s, she founded the Fondation Brigitte Bardot in 1986 to protect animals; the organization now operates in 70 countries, runs four shelters, and supports 350 partner groups. Bardot died on December 28, 2025, at age 91.
Data & Statistics – Items, estimates, bidders
- Number of lots: Sources report “more than 280” items, “285” objects, and “about 300” lots.
- Estimated values: Individual lot estimates ranged from €20 to €10,000, with most items valued under €100.
- High-profile sales: A self-portrait fetched nearly €40,000; two dog collars estimated at €30 sold for €9,400 to a Russian buyer; a typewriter used for Bardot’s autobiography realized €4,634.
- Bidding interest: Approximately 3,000 French and international bidders registered, according to the auction house.
Official Statements & Responses – Foundation and auction house
The Fondation Brigitte Bardot confirmed that the board approved the auction in June, when Bernard d’Ormale was still president. Millon’s auctioneer Alexandre Millon said the house has a long-standing relationship with the foundation and expressed pride in supporting “the defence of animal rights.”
Criticism & Opposition – Widower’s objections
Bernard d’Ormale, Bardot’s widower, denounced the sale as “a joke” and “disrespect to Brigitte’s memory,” arguing that the items are intimate and should have been preserved as part of Bardot’s cultural legacy rather than sold to raise funds. He also complained that he no longer has free access to La Madrague after his removal as foundation president.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Discrepancies in item count and auction outcome
- Item count: Reports vary from “more than 280” items to “285” objects and “about 300” lots.
- Auction result: Some articles claim the auction has already generated €953,531 (? $1.15 million) in total sales, while the September 21 date is still listed as a scheduled event, creating an unresolved inconsistency.
- Widower’s role: The foundation says d’Ormale approved the auction as board president; d’Ormale contends he was unaware the sale involved personal items. No independent verification is provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This sale is the logical continuation of the one she herself organised in 1987 with her most precious belongings to create her foundation,” — Ghyslaine Calmels-Bock, managing director of the Bardot Foundation
- “The objects presented are those that she particularly loved because they represented her second life,” — Ghyslaine Calmels, general director of the foundation
What’s Next – Allocation of proceeds and future plans
The auction’s proceeds will be directed to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and to Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, as stipulated by the foundation. The organization indicated the funds will support its animal-protection programs, though no specific projects have been announced. The auction marks the latest public event in the ongoing management of Bardot’s estate and legacy.