Marilyn Monroe Auction Showcases Personal Effects and Gowns on Centennial Anniversary

Marking the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, a high-profile auction featuring memorabilia from the icon’s estate and personal circle has already generated thousands of dollars in bids. The sale, which commenced on Thursday, offers 185 distinct items from the actress’s life, ranging from a 1950s evening gown and her personal lip pomade to an estimated $100,000 (£74,000) evening purse.

Julien’s Auctions highlighted that the collection includes "countless never-before-seen photographs and slides of the star as well as rare and hard-to-find images hidden for decades." Monroe, who achieved global stardom as a 1950s sex symbol before her tragic death at age 36, continues to hold a powerful grip on the American imagination. This auction serves as one of many tributes and exhibitions taking place across the United States this week to honor her birth on June 1, 1926.

The celebrations have been widespread, including an event earlier this week in Palm Springs, California, where over a thousand attendees dressed as Monroe in her signature white-pleated dress to pose beside a statue depicting her in the same attire. Meanwhile, Heritage Auctions presented a separate sale featuring a Christian Dior skirt worn by Monroe during her honeymoon and a letter from her husband, playwright Arthur Miller.

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Monroe’s early life was marked by time in foster care. She was discovered by an army photographer while employed at an aircraft factory during World War Two. She went on to star in numerous box-office successes, such as Niagara and Some Like It Hot, prior to her death from an overdose in 1962.

According to the auction house, the Julien’s sale includes numerous items that Monroe "personally owned, touched, and used," specifically those sourced from her final residence in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood. The lot’s most valuable item is a gold-toned 1950s cylindrical minaudiere purse. The compact contained personal effects including a tiny hair comb, a lipstick tube, eight Philip Morris cigarettes, and dimes from the 1940s. By Thursday morning, the leading bid for the purse stood at $70,000, against an estimate of $100,000.

Among the most intimate pieces in the collection is a 1950s brassiere inherited by Monroe’s acting coach, Paula Strasberg. The auction company noted that the garment has "yellowed due to age." Despite an initial estimate of $1,000, the undergarment attracted 15 bids, with the top offer reaching $7,000.

The auction also features a selection of Monroe’s personal cosmetics, including blush, eyeliner pencils, and lipsticks. Julien’s Auctions observed that these items have sparked renewed interest on TikTok, where users are attempting to recreate the star’s iconic look. Additionally, dozens of bids were placed on unpublished images from Monroe’s past photoshoots, which were signed by renowned photographers such as Milton Greene and Allan Grant.

In a separate notable transaction, the public bid $15,000 for the olive-green painted wood front gates to Monroe’s only home. Located in the affluent Brentwood area, Monroe reportedly purchased the gates for approximately $100 in 1962.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 16:28:40 UTC