Audrey Hepburn’s pearl earrings go up for auction

The earrings are synonymous with her style.

A portrait of Audrey Hepburn from 1956 going under the hammer, photographer unknown (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

Screen star Audrey Hepburn’s pearl earrings and a pair of her pale pink ballet pumps are going under the hammer.

Christie’s is holding an auction of more than 200 items that once belonged to the Oscar-winning Breakfast At Tiffany’s actress, to coincide with what would have been her birthday.

The online auction, next month, is the final in a series of three sales from the personal collection of the late film star and fashion legend.

A pair of Audrey Hepburn's cultured pearl earrings (Christie's) — A pair of Audrey Hepburn’s cultured pearl earrings (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

Hepburn’s fans can bid for the Gigi star’s ballpoint pen, in a fitted Christian Dior case, which she carried in her handbag from the 1970s until her death, aged 63, in 1993.

Audrey Hepburn's ball point pen, by Christian Dior (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn’s ballpoint pen, by Christian Dior (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

Audrey Hepburn's and Fred Astaire's bicycles on the set of the 1957 Paramount production Funny Face (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn’s and Fred Astaire’s bicycles on the set of the 1957 Paramount production Funny Face (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

The cultured pearl earrings, synonymous with Hepburn’s classic style, could fetch £12,000.

An ivory wool gabardine coat (Christie's) — An ivory wool gabardine coat (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

She wore clip or screw-back earrings and can been seen with the design going under the hammer in several photographs and films from 1954 onwards.

They were the only earrings of this type, with a fine loop connecting the single pearl with its back, in Hepburn’s possession at the time of her death and most closely resemble a pair worn in the films Charade and Paris When It Sizzles.

Audrey Hepburn, Vanity Fair by Steven Meisel (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn, Vanity Fair by Steven Meisel (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

“What she really loved were pearls because of their purity, the fact that they were made by nature,” he said.

A print of Audrey Hepburn while filming 1957 movie Love In The Afternoon (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn while filming 1957 movie Love In The Afternoon (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

Audrey Hepburn's novelty Cartier brooch (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn’s novelty Cartier brooch (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

Audrey Hepburn's pair of pale pink leather ballet pumps (Christie's) — Audrey Hepburn’s pale pink leather ballet pumps (Christie’s Images Ltd 2018)

“It is with pleasure that we now present Part III, a further group of her belongings that we feel will be of interest to her ever-growing base of admirers.”

Christie’s online sale Audrey Hepburn The Personal Collection Part III opens for bidding on May 2 and closes on May 9.