Golden coffin (cell phone included) on sale at Verona fair

(AFP PHOTO/ Tiziana Fabi)

Shoppers wondering how to deal with the afterlife found an answer Friday -- a cell-phone-equipped golden coffin, one of many items on display at the opening of an international luxury fair in Verona.

Shoppers wondering how to deal with the afterlife found an answer Friday - a cell-phone-equipped golden coffin, one of many items on display at the opening of an international luxury fair in Verona.

The coffin was priced at a mere 280,000 euros (381,000 dollars), while a diamond-studded, cancan-style wedding gown in pink chinchilla fur could be scooped up for 220,000 euros.

More traditional items include a boat running on a Ferrari engine and a crystal-covered piano, whose price was undisclosed.

A limited-edition sports car was priced at 1.3 million euros, while the more ecologically conscious could opt for a 24-carat gold racer bicycle.

An armchair covered with the skin of 20 crocodiles, decorated in gold, diamonds and rubies was on sale for 200,000 euros; a hand-crafted billiard table covered in golden sheets retailed at 60,000 euros.

The economic crisis does not appear to have dulled luxury tastes - visitors turned out in hordes to the opening day of the annual fair in the northern Italian city, which runs until March 1.