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Brenda Diana Duff Frazier (1921-1982) was a well-known socialite during the Depression era, catching the eye of the public during her debutante debut at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York in 1938 where the extravagant event hosted over one thousand guests and captivated the media’s attention. With her photograph reaching the cover of multiple leading publications including Life Magazine, Frazier was soon dubbed a “Poor Little Rich Girl” and became a media sensation, adding to a long list of oft covered socialites in the press including Gloria Vanderbilt, Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke.Once named one of the wealthiest children in the world, Frazier’s personal life was not as glamorous as it appeared in print. She married John Sims “Shipwreck” Kelly, a professional football player and stockbroker at the age of twenty-one and had a daughter Brenda Victoria, divorcing after fifteen years of marriage. After marrying once more for a short time, Brenda moved her daughter to a small town in Cape Cod to live a quieter life, although this did not always prove successful. Frazier continually struggled throughout her life with financial stability, her physical and emotional health and the media’s attention and criticism. With limited interviews and appearances, Frazier removed herself from the public eye, passing away in 1982 after a long battle with illness. Although her life ended on a tragic note, she will forever be remembered as a symbol of wealth and style, with this Bulgari evening bag providing a small glimpse into the life of one of America’s most infamous socialites of the 20th century.PROPERTY OF A NAPLES, FLORIDA LADY
A GOLD AND DIAMOND EVENING BAG, BY BULGARI
Details
A GOLD AND DIAMOND EVENING BAG, BY BULGARI
Of cylindrical shape, the case enhanced by a sculpted 18k gold geometric motif, with rose-cut diamond emblem and triangular-cut diamond pushpiece, opening to reveal a compact, fitted mirror and comb, with attached black silk rope, 4 1/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 ins., engraved in the interior 'Brenda Frazier, Tel 617-523-5841' and 'with devoted love from Ann - 1972', in a Bulgari red leather fitted case
Signed Bulgari, no. 833
Of cylindrical shape, the case enhanced by a sculpted 18k gold geometric motif, with rose-cut diamond emblem and triangular-cut diamond pushpiece, opening to reveal a compact, fitted mirror and comb, with attached black silk rope, 4 1/8 x 2 3/4 x 2 ins., engraved in the interior 'Brenda Frazier, Tel 617-523-5841' and 'with devoted love from Ann - 1972', in a Bulgari red leather fitted case
Signed Bulgari, no. 833
Provenance
Formerly from the collection of Brenda Diana Duff Frazier