Theda Bara Cleopatra Necklaces and Pearl Halter Top. ...

Description

Theda Bara Cleopatra Necklaces and Pearl Halter Top. The press called her "Purgatory's Ivory Angel," "The Devil's Maidservant," "The Vampire" and of course, "The Vamp." Indeed, Theda Bara's sex siren emoting gave the dictionary a new word and definition: "Vamp: a woman who uses her attractions to win passionate love and to bring her lover to a debased, humiliated, or impoverished condition."

Cleopatra was "the Vamp's" most celebrated performance. It was Theda's first film in Hollywood (her previous films had been shot on the east coast) and producer William Fox indulged her with spectacular sets and costumes, many of the latter scandalously revealing to 1917 audiences. This lot offers three breathtaking relics from Theda's epically slinking performance as "the Serpent of the Nile." There is a magnificent alabaster necklace that, placed around a vixen's neck, plunges an impressive 34 inches; a necklace fashioned of tiny seashells with flower decoration and tassel, worn with the first necklace; and a mother of pearl-encrusted halter top, with thousands of "pearls" on white net material - a stunning effect.

These artifacts carry the essence of Theda's amazingly magical screen presence and are highly desirable mementoes from her most famous portrayal. Theda Bara personally presented these items to the consignor shortly before the actress's death in 1955. Very Good condition. From the Joan Craig Costume Archive of Theda Bara. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Joan Craig.

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