Greta Garbo, the mysterious movie star of classic Hollywood films, proved she was still a draw this weekend as personal effects including her sunglasses, shoes and furs brought in an unexpected $1.6 million at auction.
Her sunglasses sold for $13,750.
Among the other items auctioned at a two-day event at Julien’s Auctions were :
>> Louis Vuitton steamer trunk ($37,500)
>> an antique gold pocket knife ($8,960)
>> driving caps ($15,000)
>> jewelry set ($9,600),
>> Ferragamo shoes ($8,125)
>> Maltese cross brooch ($13,750)
>> Valentina Ottoman silk overcoat ($11,520)
>> velvet black turban ($12,800)
The total was three times the estimated take pre-auction.
(Pictured, studio stills owned by Garbo from top, "Mata Hari" by Clarence Sinclair Bull, and, right, "Romance" by George Hurrell)
“Greta Garbo commanded Marilyn Monroe prices today,” said Martin Nolan, Executive director of Julien’s Auctions. “Her beauty, extraordinary screen presence and fashion trending style were proven to be timeless in this extraordinary two-day event.”
Garbo was a Swedish-born actress who rose to stardom during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. She was nominated four times for an Academy Award and received an honorary one in 1954 for her "luminous and unforgettable screen performances". She also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in both Anna Karenina (1935) and Camille (1936). In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo on their list as one of the greatest female stars of all time.
She retired in 1941 and shunned public appearances. She died in 1990.
