Lot 123. John Merrick (John Hurt) Makeup Reference Cast and Archive Photos

Sold Stock #185155 | Sold Apr 8 2025

ELEPHANT MAN, THE (1980)

Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction: Los Angeles Spring 2025

Lot # 123. John Merrick (John Hurt) Makeup Reference Cast and Archive Photos

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Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, March 26th. The auction will begin at 10:30AM PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, March 27th or Friday, March 28th.

A makeup reference cast and archive photos used to create the prosthetics for John Merrick's (John Hurt) head, from the production of David Lynch's The Elephant Man.

The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards®, but there was no category for makeup at the time. The intricate prosthetics created by Christopher Tucker were so admired that there was widespread criticism of the Academy for failing to honor his team's work. Such was the impact and influence of the film's makeup effects that the next year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences created an award category for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

The lot consists of a painted plaster cast of the head of the film's version of John Merrick from Tucker's production workshop; a plaster cast of John Hurt's head used in the production process; one framed Polaroid depicting John Hurt in makeup; and one large framed photograph depicting a headshot of John Hurt in makeup. Tucker has stated that the color photographs are the only ones of the Elephant Man that exist. The reference cast exhibits minimal signs of wear and aging, and the frame of the large photograph exhibits chipping. Dimensions: (largest) 29.75" x 24" x 19.75" (76 cm x 61 cm x 50 cm)

Estimate: $10,000 - 20,000

Size

Item size: 17" × 14" × 18" (43.18cm × 35.56cm × 45.72cm)

This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity

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