Film & TV

Top 5 Medals in 'THE COLLECTIONS OF SIR LAURENCE OLIVIER AND DAME JOAN PLOWRIGHT'

A top selection of medals in "A Week of Hollywood Legends: The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright" auction taking place on December 10th at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, Calif. Register & Bid.

December 7, 2024

the medal is in a box with a red ribbon .

Lot #55 Joan Plowright | D.B.E. Medals in Case with Photo

A top selection of medals in "A Week of Hollywood Legends: The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright" auction taking place on December 10th at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills, Calif. Register & Bid.

Joan Plowright

D.B.E. Medals in Case with Photo

Estimate:

$2,000 - $4,000

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, heavy textured silver four-pointed star, centering on a gold plate coin and in red enamel, “For God and the Empire”, with pin stem, 3.25 x 3.25 inches; and a Commander Cross of the order of the British empire medal, silver gilt crown and bail suspending a guilloche blue enamel cross, with gold plate coin and in red enamel, “For God and the Empire,” 4 x 2.25 inches, with red and gray grosgrain ribbon; together in a Toye, Kenning and Spencer Ltd, London box. Together with a photograph of Plowright holding the case open and displaying the medals when she received the honor in 2004.

Case, 2 x 9.5 x 5 inches

PROVENANCE Property from The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright

Laurence Olivier

1981 Great Britain Order of Merit Medal, Case, and Certificate

Estimate:

$4,000 - $6,000

A Great Britain Order of Merit, gold-plated crown motif with green, red, and white enamel detail, suspending a burgundy and red Canterbury cross, with green enamel laurel garland motif, white and blue central plaque, “With Merit,” verso with royal cypher of Elizabeth II, with a blue and red grosgrain ribbon to be worn, 3.5 inches (not including ribbon) x 2 inches., in a fitted Collingswood brown leather case.

Olivier was made a member of the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981. The Order has only 24 members and is one of four British orders in which the monarch exercises personal choice instead of acting on the advice of the Government.

Case, 1.75 x 6.5 x 4 inches

PROVENANCE Property from The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright

Laurence Olivier

Service Medals

Estimate:

$200 - $400

Two medals.
Two British Empire brooch pendants, gold plated, with applied blue and red enamel, 1.5 x 1.75 inches, each in a burgundy box.

PROVENANCE Property from The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright

Laurence Olivier

1953 Medal, Order of Merit, Italian Republic

Estimate:

$400 - $600

The gilt-plated crown motif terminal, with green, red, and white enamel, suspending a white enameled cross motif, with sculpted eagle borders, centering a gold tone star, with green and red grosgrain ribbon, in a box from Cravanzola, Rome, 2 ¾ x 2 inches in original case.

Olivier became a Grande Ufficiale, or Grand Officer, of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1953 and was the first actor to receive this honor in the Order of Merit's 79-year history.

Case, 1.75 x 9 x 4.5 inches

PROVENANCE Property from The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright

Laurence Olivier

Olympics Medal and UCLA Medal

Estimate:

$300 - $500

A medal presented to the actor by the chancellor of UCLA in its original presentation box, which has been stamped "Laurence, Lord Olivier O.M" and a 1984 Olympics medal presented to the actor in its original presentation box.

Largest, 4 x 6 x 2.5 inches

PROVENANCE Property from The Collections of Sir Laurence Olivier and Dame Joan Plowright

a black and white photo of a man and woman in front of a sign that says musical

Live Auction

HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS: THE COLLECTIONS OF SIR LAURENCE OLIVIER & DAME JOAN PLOWRIGHT

Dec 10, 2024

10:00 AM PST