This Egyptian style wig stand was used in the 1963 epic motion picture, “Cleopatra,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The gold colored stand is constructed of carved wood with a molded hollow top and is hand painted with red, blue, and yellow details. The stand was one of approximately eight that were custom made for use on the production and were used to display Cleopatra’s royal wig collection.
The stands sat in a two-tier display in the queen’s dressing area and can be clearly seen in several scenes that take place in Cleopatra’s private chambers. A virtually identical stand was seen in a close up shot during one of the scenes Cleopatra shares with her ladies in waiting.
“Cleopatra” was the most expensive movie ever made at its time and nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox after filming had concluded. This was largely due to difficulties and budget overruns caused by the film’s star, Elizabeth Taylor. The actress was awarded a record-breaking one million dollar contract, which eventually swelled to seven million due to delays in production. Additional delays were caused by an illness Ms. Taylor suffered which later required the production to completely relocate. The film suffered further scandal when the married Taylor and Burton embarked on a very public affair during the production, causing widespread moral outrage among the general public. Despite its controversy, critics praised “Cleopatra,” and the film received four Academy Awards in 1964, including Best Special Visual Effects, Best Costume Design (Color), Best Cinematography (Color), and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color).
The wig stand is in good condition with some paint cracking and evidence of age. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity. Presented by The Golden Closet, your premier source for iconic screen used movie wardrobe, props, and music entertainment memorabilia. |
