$6,400
A cream silk satin gown with heavy rhinestone and faceted glass embellishment in a foliate motif worn by Claudette Colbert as a glamorous singer in Zaza (Paramount, 1939). Although Edith Head was the costume designer for Zaza , this elaborate gown has been attributed in the book Those Glorious Glamour Years by Margaret J. Bailey as being designed by Travis Banton at the request of Colbert. Banton was quoted as describing it as "an extravaganza, and profusely so, frankly vulgar." The figure-hugging trained gown was later worn by Ann Dvorak in Flame of Barbary Coast (Republic, 1945). Accompanied by an apricot ostrich plume, two black and white studio images, an original lot tag, and a copy of Flame of Barbary Coast . Appears in the books Those Glorious Glamour Years : The Great Hollywood Costumes of the Nineteen Thirties by Margaret J. Bailey (Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1982) and Hollywood Costume : Glamour ! Glitter ! Romance ! by Dale McConathy with Diana Vreeland (New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1977) and previously exhibited at the corresponding exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The gown was misattributed in the book and exhibit as a Mae West costume for Belle of the Nineties (Paramount, 1934). PROVENANCE Partial lot 50, "Entertainment Memorabilia Including Costumes from The Collection of Paramount Pictures," Christie's, New York, Sale number 7117, December 12, 1990 From the Collection of Glenn Brown Categories:
Auctioneer:
Juliens Auctions
Date:
2014-04-11
