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Once upon a time, Loni Anderson was so adored by Burt Reynolds that he paid artists to paint her portrait - again and again.

Now the ex Mrs. Burt Reynolds is selling off everything that the actor ever gave her during their 12 years of marriage including those very personal paintings.

Among the art going on the block is a risqué nude of the actress when she was quite the blonde bombshell, posing in all her hourglass glory, that Burt named 'Loni In The Sky With Diamonds.'

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Object of affection: Loni Anderson is selling off everything that her ex-husband Burt Reynolds gave her during their 12-year marriage including some very personal paintings of herself

Loni, who is now an attractive 69 years old, spoke to Entertainment Tonight about sale happening this Saturday at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles.

The former couple are making it as 'his and her sell off' with Burt's sale of more than 600 items occurring in Las Vegas the following week, as ET reported.

Speaking of the famous nude painting, Loni told ET: 'What's so great about this is that I can look at it and say, "There was once a time and things were all up in the air and good"'.

Nude portrait: Among the art the 69-year-old actress is putting on the auction block is a nude portrait commissioned by Burt during their marriage that she says he named 'Loni In The Sky With Diamonds' 

'He loved art': Loni said Burt 'would pick out a favourite artist and then he would commission them to do a portrait of me. So pretty soon there were a lot of portraits of me'

His and her auction: Loni and Burt are both selling off memorabilia through Julien's Auctions with hers set for Saturday in LA and his scheduled for next week in Las Vegas 

Jewel of his eye: The former WKRP In Cincinatti star is auctioning off jewelry Burt gave her including these stunning pearl earrings and matching necklace

'Loni In The Sky With Diamonds - that's what Burt named it,' she added.

'He loved art so he would pick out a favourite artist and then he would commission them to do a portrait of me. So pretty soon there were a lot of portraits of me.

'My granddaughters both go to UCLA and I said, "By the way, do either of you want this huge nude portrait of grandma on your wall all in the dorm?" And they're like (makes a wide-eyed face) And I say, "I'm just kidding. It's okay."'

Most cherished item to go: The star is selling her white lace wedding dress that she wore at the couple's 1988 nuptials; Loni posed with the dress and other precious things at Julien's Auctions Gallery event on Monday

Handsome couple: Loni and Burt were pictured looking happy in 1993 but a year later they divorced

First ring: Burt's former Mrs. is also selling this first ring he ever gave her 

Loni is auctioning off 65 items in all and they also include the first ring Burt gave her - a stunning ruby rock surrounded by diamonds - and a WKRP In Cincinatti T-shirt.

She's also selling the lacy white wedding dress she wore at their 1988 nuptials.

'It has all the romance and the tradition. It was such a special day,' Loni recalled.

She mentioned that Burt, 78, is selling off the stagecoach that they rode in at their lavish ceremony.

Do you have the time: This gold and diamond watch is among the many treasures Loni is kissing goodbye

It's mutual: Loni explained that she and Burt both agreed to sell all the stuff to clear space in their homes

'From our wedding. It's a stagecoach that you can ride in,' Loni told ET. 'I just hope that somebody enjoys it and a little piece of our romance.'

Loni, who has a daughter from a previous marriage and shares a 26-year-old adopted son with Burt, explained the auction decision this way: 'About a year ago we were having dinner with our son.

'Jon Voight was at the dinner with us, and we were all talking about all the stuff that you accumulate over the years.

'We'd been thinking about scaling back: "What are we gonna do with all this stuff? Do you have a museum for yourself? No." And so what are you gonna do with it? Share it.'

She said, he said: Loni said she asked Burt, 'What do you think if if auction all the gifts that you gave me?' and that he replied, 'Oh, you'll be there for years'

ET referred to it as 'his and her sell off to pay his debts, clear out some space and do something for their kids.'

Reynolds, meanwhile, wanted to clarify that he is not broke, teling ET in a statement: 'I am simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore...

'Quite frankly, I am sick of so many pictures of myself in my own home.'

Friends again: They had a bitter divorce but Loni and Burt (pictured in 1988) are on friendlier terms now and share a 26-year-old adopted son, Quinton

Loni told ET: 'Our finances have been separate all these... we've been divorced for over 20 years.'

Regarding his health, Loni conceded: 'He did have some tough times, a quintuple bypass and he had back surgery. You know he's Mr Stunt and when he's 90 and they ask him to do a stair fall, he's going to do it.'

Despite their acrimonious split - during which he accused her of cheating and she claimed he physically abused her - Loni has kind words for the '70s heartthrob.

'We just need a break and then you go back thinking, "Well there wasn't 12 terrible years." There was just that end. And then you go back and think, "Oh, I remember that. We laughed so hard. That was so fun."'

She said she asked Burt, 'What do you think if if auction all the gifts that you gave me?' and that he said, 'Oh, you'll be there for years.'