THOMAS EDWARD LAWRENCE - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1888-1935)
AN IVORY SILK DESERT ROBE

THOMAS EDWARD LAWRENCE (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA)
AN IVORY SILK DESERT ROBE

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These lots have been imported from outside the EU … Read more

Property from the Collection of David Gainsborough RobertsBorn in North Wales in 1888, T.E. Lawrence was a British scholar, writer and soldier. Soon after World War One started, he joined the British Army and was stationed in Egypt. In 1916 he was sent to Arabia where he mobilised the Arab Revolt and became liaison officer to the son of the Revolt's leader. He became internationally known as 'Lawrence of Arabia'. After the war, he served a brief spell as a diplomat before serving in both the RAF and The Tanks Corps in the 1920s and 1930s. Lawrence was killed in a fatal motorcycle accident after leaving the RAF in 1935.

THOMAS EDWARD LAWRENCE - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1888-1935)AN IVORY SILK DESERT ROBE

CIRCA 1916

Details

THOMAS EDWARD LAWRENCE - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1888-1935)
AN IVORY SILK DESERT ROBE
CIRCA 1916
With buttoned neck opening, one sleeve apparently later

Provenance

By tradition: T. E. Lawrence.
Given to his close friend, Arthur Russell's mother.
Thence by descent.
Sotheby's, London, 2 November 1995, lot 186.

Exhibited

Imperial War Museum, London, 'Lawrence of Arabia: The Life, The Legend', 14 October 2005 - 17 April 2006

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Lot Essay

Arthur Russell met Lawrence when both enrolled in the Tanks Corps in 1923 and shared a barracks hut in Bovington Camp, Dorset. This robe was one of two given to Arthur Russell's mother. Lawrence told her to cut them up and make dresses out of them. Luckily, Arthur Russell managed to save this one from her scissors, but not before a sleeve had been removed. This appears, now, to have been replaced.

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