Two hundred and eighty-five personal belongings of Brigitte Bardot have gone on public display at the Hotel Drouot in Paris ahead of an auction on September 21. The items come from the actress's homes in Saint-Tropez, La Madrague and La Garrigue.
The exhibition opened on Tuesday, September 15, giving the public its first close look at objects from inside the houses of the star, who died last December at the age of 91. A television crew from TF1 filmed the display for its evening news bulletin.
One visitor told TF1 that it genuinely felt as though Bardot were still there, surrounded by all these deeply personal objects.
Boots stuffed with old magazines
The lots trace a surprisingly modest daily life. A TF1 journalist on site noted that Bardot used to stuff old magazines inside her boots to help them keep their shape. Those red boots, which she wore herself, will carry a starting bid of 40 euros. Other lots include glasses, lighters, wicker baskets, hats, ashtrays, saucepans and watches.
Her former secretary's memories
Franck Guillot, Bardot's former personal secretary, said she called these belongings her "merdouilles," small trinkets with little real value in themselves. He said she also kept many small gifts sent by fans and held on to absolutely everything. According to Guillot, every object had its fixed place in her home and nothing was ever moved, so that when the cleaner tidied up, she would simply lift each item, wipe underneath it and set it back down exactly where it had been.
Auctioneer warns bids could 'take off'
Most of the items carry a starting price below 100 euros. But Alexandre Millon, the auctioneer at the Millon auction house handling the sale, cautioned that today's estimate means nothing. He described it as a springboard rather than a price range, warning that bidding could genuinely take off once the sale begins.
Where the money will go
Proceeds from the auction will be shared between the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, the star's only son.
Bardot became one of French cinema's most recognisable faces in the 1950s and 1960s before largely retreating from public life to focus on animal welfare, founding her Saint-Tropez-based foundation in 1986. The Hotel Drouot, where the items are on show, is Paris's best-known auction house, hosting sales ranging from fine art to celebrity memorabilia.
