Marilyn Monroe’s Blouse and Elton John’s Boots Among Items Sold at Auction

A blouse that once belonged to Marilyn Monroe was among the “glam” pop culture items that sold for thousands of pounds at an auction. The garment, formerly owned by the Hollywood icon, was purchased for £1,650 by a private collector in the south east of England. This sale took place during the Art and Anarchy auction, organized by John Rolfe in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, on Saturday. Elton John’s “very glam” leather platform boots were acquired for £1,000 by a bidder located in Australia. Additionally, a guitar signed by Beatles member Paul McCartney fetched £3,400. John Rolfe, the director of the auction, described the place where he discovered Marilyn Monroe’s garment as “like Madame Tussauds on acid.” Mr. Rolfe explained that he had received a call from a couple in Wiltshire who possessed “a massive collection of mannequins dressed in pop icon outfits,” which they had obtained from a museum clear-out. He further stated, “They had a blouse that was the property of Marilyn Monroe and all the paperwork to go with it.” Rolfe also remarked, “I’ve wanted to do a sale like this forever but not been brave enough.” The collection was partially assembled by Rodda Thomas, the landlord of the Crown and Sceptre in Stroud, who had “amassed a really good collection of punk related items” in the space above his pub. The Art and Anarchy auction featured a total of 1,116 lots. These included a watch that belonged to the notorious criminal Ronnie Kray and a riot shield crafted by Bristol artist Banksy for the Dismaland exhibition. For further updates, BBC Gloucestershire can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.