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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Four headdress designs for Vivien Leigh as 'Cleopatra' in Ceasar and Cleopatra, 1946 (the largest) unframed (together with another costume design by the same hand, possibly for Elizabeth Taylor as 'Cleopatra' in Cleopatra, 1963 (5)) image 1

The Roy Astley Collection: Theatrical Designs by Cecil Beaton and Oliver Messel

Lot 59^AR

Oliver Messel
(British, 1904-1978)
Four headdress designs for Vivien Leigh as 'Cleopatra' in Ceasar and Cleopatra, 1946 (the largest) unframed

Amended

20 May – 3 June 2025, 12:00 BST

Online, London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £3,584 inc. premium

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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978)

Four headdress designs for Vivien Leigh as 'Cleopatra' in Ceasar and Cleopatra, 1946
each signed 'Oliver Messel' (lower right)
pencil, three with gold paint
38 x 25cm (14 15/16 x 9 13/16in).(the largest)
unframed
together with another costume design by the same hand, possibly for Elizabeth Taylor as 'Cleopatra' in Cleopatra, 1963 (5)

Footnotes

Messel was brought on to design costumes, props and interiors for Caesar and Cleopatra, a film directed and produced by Gabriel Pascal after the stage play of the same name by George Bernard Shaw. Following in the wake of the Second World War Messel had to be creative with his designs considering the limited materials on offer. Another pressure must surely have been the knowledge that the film would be shot in full technicolour.

Working with Hugh Skillen, a maker of wigs and headdresses, Messel created papier-mache busts of Vivien Leigh in order to fully appreciate the scale and practicality of his designs during the making process.

Saleroom notices

Please note that some of the headdress designs may possibly be for Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra in the 1963 film.

Additional information

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