“Private possessions of Marilyn Monroe go on show in Germany this week, most of them collected by a man who was not even born when the Hollywood sex icon committed suicide in 1962.
Among the 300 items never placed on public display before are the actress and singer’s last phone book and her 1961 desk diary, the Museum of Icons in Frankfurt said Monday.
The museum, which normally exhibits Christian Orthodox paintings only, is making a tongue-in-cheek comment on the way that stars themselves, or images of them, are hailed nowadays as ‘icons.’
‘Paintings of her have a similar function to Orthodox icons for the devout,’ said co-curator Snejanka Bauer.
Ted Stampfer, who lives in Mannheim, Germany, lent most of the items for the show. The collection includes Monroe’s hair curlers and clothing including a cream satin morning coat and handmade shoes by Salvatore Ferragamo.
The show, which runs from December 15 to February 28, also includes Andy Warhol portraits of Monroe, her film scripts, letters, bills and even some items of her make-up kit.”
Monsters and Critics