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Cleopatra's (Elizabeth Taylor) dress from Joseph L. Mankiewicz's historical epic Cleopatra. The Egyptian queen wore her dress as she said goodbye to Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison), before witnessing a vision of his murder at the hands of Brutus (Kenneth Haigh) and his fellow senators. This lot comes from the archives of the Italian costume company Costumi d'Arte.

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. Taylor also set a Guinness World Record for the most costume changes in a film, with 65.

The costume comprises a purple jersey silk dress with a pleated bodice and waist, and a red crepe stole with an embroidered golden silk snake. The dress has an interior label in the neckline on which "Liz Taylor Cleopatra" is handwritten, and a label from Costumi d'Arte Peruzzi. The garment has some light staining and discolouration, most notably around the chest, arms and hem.

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: £8,000 - 16,000 Ω

View all lots from CLEOPATRA (1963)

View all lots from Costumi d'Arte Collection