This is from one of the sets of armor made for the three thieves in the movie. One thing I don’t see was the single pearl drop Errol Flynn wore in “The Adventures of Don Juan.” Top costume jewelry expert and antique book publisher Judith Miller had told me a particularly amusing story Joan Castle Joseff relayed to her about Flynn, who was rumored to be gay, and this particular earring.Ī thief’s armor for 1942’s “The Jungle Book.”įrom the top of the ledge of drawers, Tina and Michele take down a large, red breastplate from “The Jungle Book,” with swirling bejeweled strips of golden metal and golden faces, and put it on the mannequin. The scenes filmed with the necklace ended up on the cutting room floor.” “The necklace cut her from the weight of the cape, so she wouldn’t wear it. “In the scene where she was going to wear the necklace, she was required to have a cape over it,” Tina says. With all the pieces of history around me, I feel completely overwhelmed.Īs I’m pondering this, the Joseffs take out the elaborate “emerald” and “diamond” necklace that Greta Garbo refused to wear in 1936’s “Camille.” It’s beautiful, but I can see her objections: It appears to be a tight-fitting choker, with uncomfortably pointy sterling silver leaves. I start to wonder: If today’s stars knew about Joseff of Hollywood, would they dare wear it in the spotlight? It’s just so classy, and with a backless gown, it could definitely be red-carpet worthy. It has nine long strands of faux-pearls, connected down the middle by crystals set in Joseff’s trademark golden-plated filigree. Going back to the black velvet trays, Tina and Michele bring out a tremendous necklace, worn by Bette Davis in 1939’s “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex” and the manly Tyrone Power in 1939’s “The Rains Came,” which may be my favorite thing I’ve seen so far. Moreover, since it is “only” costume jewelry, it wasn’t regarded as particularly valuable until very recently.Īt left, the giant nine-strand faux pearl necklace worn by Bette Davis in 1939’s “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.” At right, the choker Greta Garbo refused to wear for 1936’s “Camille.” Instead of letting the studios keep the best pieces, he held on to them and rented them over and over across the decades. The reason this stuff is all here, I think to myself, is a testament to Joseff’s business savvy. Not to mention Jean Harlow’s glamorous “Libeled Lady” brooch, Judy Garland’s “Ziegfeld Follies” lariat necklace, and the exotic bird bracelets from “Desert Hawk.” There’s Elizabeth Taylor’s serpent belt from “Cleopatra,” Marilyn Monroe’s pearl earrings from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Scarlet O’Hara’s necklace, and Rhett Butler’s cigar case.
“This is where we keep the most famous pieces,” says Michele, pointing to a circular glass display case in the corner. The crown jewels of Hollywood, including the snake bracelets worn by Rita Hayworth in 1947’s “Down to Earth,” the leaf brooch worn by Jean Harlow in 1936’s “Libeled Lady,” and the bird bracelets worn in 1944’s “Desert Hawk.” Click on the image to take a closer look.
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