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Lot 40
Lot 40
1960s-1970s - Douglas Darnell, Goldfinger |
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Goldfinger - a sensational stage ensemble by
Douglas Darnell comprising: a bias cut gown with fitted bodice, the
flesh-coloured silk chiffon ground lavishly embroidered with graduated Swarovski
clear crystals, gold sequins and gold pearl beads in bands radiating from an
apex at the upper bodice, slit centrally to the upper leg, the flowing train
lined in gold silk tissue and terminating in a large tassel of clear crystals,
rhinestones, gold pearl beads and mirror sequins; and a corresponding voluminous
sleeveless coat of silver silk chiffon decorated with bands of silver lurex
edged with silver tinsel fringing and embroidered with gold and silver sequins,
the coat further embellished at the opening, armholes and collar with gold and
silver mirror sequins, imitation pearls and gold beads, lined in gold silk
tissue.
Weight of gown: approx. 4kg.
Although this gown is not the first one worn by Dame Shirley to sing the theme
song to the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger,
her first international hit, it is the one which she particularly associates
with the Bond song. This gown was made in the late 1970s and according to
Darnell, was first worn for a concert at the Wembley Conference Centre attended
by HRH Prince Charles, 14th November, 1979. The stage coat in this lot however
does date from the early 1960s, and was occasionally worn with the first
Goldfinger dress. Photographs show Dame Shirley wearing the original dress and
this stage coat together during a twelve-day engagement at the Empire Room, New
York, October, 1967.
£18,000
Images displayed with kind permission of Christies Images Ltd. © 2002
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