An auction of personal effects belonging to Marilyn Monroe, timed to coincide with what would have been her 100th birthday, concluded yesterday in Los Angeles with brisk bidding from British collectors. The sale, conducted by Julien’s Auctions, included cosmetics, gowns and jewellery from the actress’s estate, with several lots exceeding pre-sale estimates.
Among the most contested items was a silk chiffon gown worn by Monroe in the 1954 film “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” The piece sold for $120,000 to a private collector based in London. A compact mirror and lipstick case, believed to have been used by Monroe during her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller, fetched $14,000. Bidding for cosmetics, including rouge pots and eyelash curlers, saw strong participation from British buyers, who accounted for nearly 30% of successful bids, according to auction house records.
“Monroe’s appeal transcends national boundaries, but British collectors have a particular fascination with her,” said Darren Julien, founder of Julien’s Auctions. “They view her as a symbol of mid-century Hollywood glamour, and they are willing to pay a premium for provenance.”
The auction raised a total of $3.2 million, with proceeds benefiting a foundation dedicated to film preservation. The high level of interest from British bidders reflects a broader trend in the memorabilia market, where classic Hollywood items have maintained value despite economic fluctuations.
The timing of the sale on Monroe’s centenary underscored her enduring cultural footprint. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on 1 June 1926, Monroe became one of the most recognised figures of the 20th century. Her death in 1962 at the age of 36 cemented her status as an icon, and her personal belongings remain highly sought after by collectors and institutions alike.
Julien’s reported that online bidding came from 47 countries, with the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan the most active outside the United States. The auction house noted that British bidders were particularly drawn to items associated with Monroe’s visits to England, where she filmed “The Prince and the Showgirl” opposite Laurence Olivier in 1956.
The sale also included a handwritten poem by Monroe, which sold for $45,000 to a buyer in Edinburgh. The poem, written on hotel stationery, offers a glimpse into her private reflections on fame. “The market for Monroe memorabilia is remarkably resilient,” said Emily Wright, a cultural historian at King’s College London. “These objects are not just curiosities; they are artefacts of a vanished era of Hollywood’s global soft power.”
The auction’s success suggests that Monroe’s commercial appeal remains undiminished, even as younger generations engage with her legacy through digital media. For British collectors, the acquisition of Monroe’s personal effects represents more than a financial investment; it is a bid to own a fragment of cinematic history.
