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A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex image 1
A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex image 2
A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex image 3
A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex image 4
A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex image 5
Lot 88

A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

25 November 2013, 13:00 EST
Los Angeles

US$13,000 - US$15,000

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A Bette Davis gown from The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

Warner Bros., 1939. Comprising a forest green quilted jacket with leg of mutton sleeves, central black and gold brocade panel, gold trim, and two gold charms at each shoulder; together with a matching floor-length skirt with a center split; and cream-colored organdy ruffled collar and cuffs. Lacking the brocade underskirt visible in the film. Accompanied by a copy of the film.
Provenance: Profiles in History, Hollywood Auction 9, July 23, 2001, lot 154.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex stars Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I and Errol Flynn as Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. It is well-known for its visual splendor, including gowns designed by Orry-Kelly and the art direction of Anton Grot, who worked on some of Warner Bros.' best loved films, including Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Captain Blood (1935), and Mildred Pierce (1945). The film, which had a legendarily tumultuous production including many clashes between Davis and Flynn, was nominated for five Academy Awards®.

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