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A shark tooth clapperboard with two framed unpublished polaroids of "Bruce", the shark from the production of Steven Spielberg's Jaws. During production, a small number of clapperboards - believed to be as few as four - were custom-made in the style of a shark's jaws in homage to the film's voracious antagonist. The lettering on each board was hand-painted in a unique manner. The toothy clapperboards were said to be difficult for the camera operators to use, however, and the crew was forced to use standard clapperboards during production as well.

This clapperboard originated from Neil Gillis, who served as a teamster in the transportation department during production in Martha's Vineyard. Following filming, Gillis was tasked with transporting "Bruce" - the notoriously difficult mechanical shark nicknamed after Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer - back to California. For his efforts, production subsequently gifted this clapperboard to Gillis, in whose possession it has since remained.

Made from wood and painted black-and-white, this clapperboard features tooth-shaped slates with "Zanuck/Brown Prod.," "Universal Studios 02074 "JAWS"," "DIR. S. SPIELBERG," and "CAM. W. BUTLER" labeled on front. It features a wooden dowel inserted on the reverse, as well as a metal screw embedded at the bottom for attaching an elastic band to keep the slate properly aligned. The reverse also features white chalk residue from production as well as a second empty screw hole.

Also included are two unpublished personal color Polaroids of Gillis with "Bruce"; and an expanded edition of Jaws screenplay writer Carl Gottlieb's "The Jaws Logs" and introduction by fellow screenplay writer and novelist Peter Benchley. The photographs come mounted behind glass inside a custom frame. Dimensions: 12.5" x 10.5" x 1.25" (31.75 cm x 26.75 cm x 3.25 cm)

Additional Provenance: Letter of Authenticity from Gillis.

Estimate: $40,000 - 80,000

View all lots from JAWS (1975)