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Mark Antony's (Richard Burton) Battle of Actium costume from Joseph L. Mankiewicz's historical epic Cleopatra. Antony wore his silver-coloured armour as he led the Egyptian navy against Octavian's (Roddy McDowall) Roman fleet in the Battle of Actium. This lot comes from the archives of the Italian costume company Costumi d'Arte.

Seven-time Academy Award nominee Burton was regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation and performed in several films, including Cleopatra, alongside his wife, the iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor. At the time of its release, Cleopatra was the most expensive film ever made. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four, including Best Costume Design.

This costume comprises a helmet, a cuirass, an under-armour tunic and an undergarment tunic. The helmet, cuirass and under-armour tunic are all made predominantly of silver-coloured leather, with metal Roman symbols and detailing.

The helmet has a functioning visor made of metal, and its crest is a set of faux feathers extending from a metal crest holder. Its wooden interior is lined with brown leather to cushion the wearer's head.

The cuirass consists of two sturdy leather torso segments connected at the sides by leather straps, with scalloped parts that loop over the shoulders. The under-armour tunic has "29PE" handwritten in blue ink on its interior beside a printed "Richard Burton" costume label. The tunic is scalloped at the waist and armholes, and fastened by leather straps.

The undergarment tunic, also silver-coloured, is made of crepe. It features olive-leaf patterned sections made from light- and dark-gold-coloured cord, and has a zip at the rear left side. A printed label inside the tunic reads "2399."

Additional Provenance: This lot comes from the archives of the famed Italian costume company Costumi d'Arte. The company has been supplying some of the biggest film productions in the world with costumes for over 100 years.

Estimate: £25,000 - 50,000 Ω

View all lots from CLEOPATRA (1963)

View all lots from Costumi d'Arte Collection