Charlie Chaplin Bowler Hat and Cane Fetches $62K at LA Auction

“Little Tramp” was the highlight of an auction featuring several pieces of iconic Hollywood memorabilia Nov. 18 at Bonhams. The Chaplin mementos were expected to fetch between $40,000 and $60,000, but exceeded expectations with a winning bid of $62,500. Bonham’s memorabilia specialist Lucy Carr told Reuters she is unsure how many of Chaplin’s signature bowlers still exist, but the “Little Tramp” hat came from a private collection with a direct link to Chaplin. In 2006, another Chaplin bowler hat and cane—from the film “The Great Dictator”—sold for more than $140,000.

Chaplin’s hat and cane were not the only iconic pieces of popular culture in the auction, which is still in progress. A handwritten letter from John Lennon, including a sketch of his famous drawing “Two Virgins,” sold for $25,000. A set of early Marilyn Monroe photographs sold for $21,250, and a painting by Frank Sinatra went for $10,625.