Theda Bara Cleopatra Head Piece. ...

Description

Theda Bara Cleopatra Head Piece. Truly fit for a Queen, at least a very voluptuous and serpentine one, is this metal head piece -- formed and designed to resemble a coiled snake -- that once adorned the anointed head of Theda Bara as she played her most infamous performance, Cleopatra in 1917. The snake is posing on profile, its black eye (with silver center) gazing right at you, and the snakeskin motif of the crown is on the inside as well as the outside of the band. Once upon a time two pyramid decorations dangled from each side of the crown; one is lost to the ages, but the other survives in this lot, now loose but with its original attachment string. Surely placing this adornment atop her Cleopatra wig helped Theda believe fervently in her Serpent of the Nile role. The piece was a personal gift from Theda to the consignor shortly before her death in 1955. Excellent condition. From the Joan Craig Costume Archive of Theda Bara. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Joan Craig.

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