Record Breaking Auction Enhances Newbridge Monroe Exhibition

Record Breaking Auction Enhances Newbridge Monroe Exhibition

Museum of Style Icons Purchases Three Items

The greatest auction of Marilyn Monroe items of all time took place in LA over the weekend at Julien’s Auctions, breaking all records with the Happy Birthday Mr President dress selling for €4.81million. Having been on display at Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of Style Icons (MOSI) earlier this month, Irish fans had the exclusive opportunity to see this historic garment before the auction.

MOSI successfully purchased three items in the auction with an extraordinary letter written by Jean Kennedy Smith the highlight piece at a cost of $28,000. The two-page letter confirms a romantic relationship between Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn with Kennedy-Smith writing that the couple are “the new item” and inviting Marilyn to visit with Bobby.

In addition to the letter, a bustier worn by Marilyn for a photoshoot with Richard Avedon for LIFE magazine in 1958 was purchased by the museum and will be on display in 2017 after it goes through a full conservation treatment. The garment is accompanied by a copy of the magazine featuring the famous shoot.

The final item purchased in the auction was a St Christopher medal that Marilyn wore on many occasions and it featured in a photoshoot with Bob Beerman in 1952.

Speaking after the auction, William Doyle CEO of Newbridge Silverware commented, “We are particularly excited to have purchased a piece of history with the Jean Kennedy-Smith letter. This is a very important item and will be a showcase piece in our collection.”

Both the medal and letter will be on display to the public at Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of Style Icons before the end of the year as part of its extensive Marilyn Monroe display. The museum is open seven days a week and is free to enter. A one hour tour of the museum is also available to book and costs €5 per person with proceeds going towards the conservation of the collection. 

For further information on MOSI, please visit https://newbridgesilverware.com/mosi

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