This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2021
Marilyn Monroe's 12mm faux pearl screw-back earrings that was worn during her historic "Last Sitting" photo shoot during the "The White Veil" session. Legendary fashion photographer Bert Stern was commissioned by Vogue Magazine to take a series of photographs of Marilyn Monroe in the nude, the shoots took place six weeks before her untimely passing. It is our understanding that these pearl earrings are most likely that last earrings she was photographed in.
Props, jewelry, clothing and accessories were all provided by Vogue magazine. Having worked as a professional photographer for quite some time to many celebrities he started to collect small mementos from various sittings he took. These pearl earrings were loaned to Stern by Vogue Magazine and kept as a souvenir and later given as gift to a friend for his 59th birthday. Accompanied by a copy of a Letter of Provenance from Stern along with a detailed chain of custody.
These pearl earrings were worn by Marilyn during the "The White Veil" session where Marilyn Monroe was posing seductively in the nude only wearing a white veil. Marilyn was draped in various kinds of pearls all throughout the Last Sitting.
The "Last Sitting was a series of over 2,700 photographs Stern took for Vogue Magazine in 1962. These photos were taken in 3 daily sessions (from late June 1962 to early July) just six weeks before her untimely passing.
There are many images of Marilyn wearing the earring during this historic photo session that can be viewed by copying and pasting the following into your browser: http://www.cursumperficio.net/FicheASittingveil.html.
Provenance: Originally from the estate of Bert Stern.
Very good condition. The earrings are accompanied by a copy of a note from Bert Stern mentioning the earrings, a signed letter of provenance from a gentleman who states that his father worked for Bert Stern and was gifted the earrings on his 59th birthday from Stern. The earrings will also be accompanied by a second (unsigned) typed letter of provenance from the gentleman's father detailing the story of how he received the earrings from Stern,