From the William Wyler 1959 epic-adventure 'Ben Hur, starring Charlton Heston, this is a 'peasant' vest and hanging tassels costume. In the classic film, a Jewish prince is betrayed by a Roman friend, and after regaining his freedom, he comes back for revenge. The vest is made from a thick, tan wool material and is attached together by thin leather laces that fasten into small metal pins. This collection of 'Ben Hur' memorabilia came from an estate in New Jersey with the original purchase dating back to the early 70's from the David Weisz studios auction in Los Angeles. This collector passed away recently and the 45 year old collection was sold recently at Berman's Auction Gallery.