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Lot 648
A Rudolph Valentino bespoke wool suit
30 November 2016, 12:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$20,000 inc. premium
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A Rudolph Valentino bespoke wool suit
Cream wool knickers and a matching half Norfolk jacket with four flap pockets, bearing a label of "J. Dege & Sons Ltd., 13 Conduit Street, London," inscribed in black ink, "Rudolph Valentino Esq. / 8.8.23."
Accompanying the lot is a photocopy of a letter William Self wrote to Christie's in 1982, exploring the possibility of the sale of some Rudolph Valentino memorabilia on behalf of the Valentino family. Included is a list of objects that Self described as being previously owned by Alberto Valentino and "retained ... in his possession since 1926," which includes this suit. Also accompanied by one photograph of Valentino wearing an identical suit, and a second photograph of Valentino wearing an identical pair of pants.
This suit has special significance as it was purchased by Valentino during his honeymoon with Natacha Rambova. As detailed in Michael Morris's book Madam Valentino: The Many Lives of Natacha Rambova, during the couple's visit to London in August 1923, "Valentino spent a fortune ordering custom-made suits, hats, shirts, and boots," (p 136). Valentino was photographed wearing an identical suit during their subsequent visit to Rambova's family home in Antibes, France, Chateau Juan-les-Pins. He was also pictured wearing a tan version of the suit elsewhere on their trip.
Accompanying the lot is a photocopy of a letter William Self wrote to Christie's in 1982, exploring the possibility of the sale of some Rudolph Valentino memorabilia on behalf of the Valentino family. Included is a list of objects that Self described as being previously owned by Alberto Valentino and "retained ... in his possession since 1926," which includes this suit. Also accompanied by one photograph of Valentino wearing an identical suit, and a second photograph of Valentino wearing an identical pair of pants.
This suit has special significance as it was purchased by Valentino during his honeymoon with Natacha Rambova. As detailed in Michael Morris's book Madam Valentino: The Many Lives of Natacha Rambova, during the couple's visit to London in August 1923, "Valentino spent a fortune ordering custom-made suits, hats, shirts, and boots," (p 136). Valentino was photographed wearing an identical suit during their subsequent visit to Rambova's family home in Antibes, France, Chateau Juan-les-Pins. He was also pictured wearing a tan version of the suit elsewhere on their trip.




















