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Rene Belloq's (Paul Freeman) ceremonial staff from Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the climactic scene, Belloq held his Hebrew staff during the ritual to open the Ark of the Covenant, which resulted in catastrophic consequences for the Nazis.

With its combination of violent biblical imagery and a roaring score by Spielberg regular John Williams, the so-called "face melting" scene where the full power of the staff was revealed became an instant classic in American popular culture upon Raiders' release in 1981. Seven months later, the film received eight Academy Award® nominations, including wins for Best Visual Effects and Art & Set Direction, as well as a special award for its sound work.

Two staffs were created for the sequence by sculptor Keith Short, who sculpted them in clay before casting the final versions in fibreglass. This fibreglass staff originates directly from the collection of executive producer Howard Kazanjian.

This staff's ridged body is painted eggshell white and mounted with an ornately detailed topper sculpted with a motif of three ram's heads. The topper is metallized to resemble gilded gold-colour and applied with green verdigris to appear ancient and corroded, as is the staff's bottom, the tip of which has broken off since production. The staff exhibits some fading paint and light smudging from age and handling, though its remaining gold-colour detailing remains vibrant. Dimensions: 15.25 cm x 15.25 cm x 147.5 cm (6" x 6" x 58")

Estimate: £60,000 - 120,000 Ω

View all lots from INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

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