One of two Entertainment Memorabilia auctions to be held by Bonhams in the month of June has its associated online catalog available online this morning. This event will be held in Los Angeles on June 26th for their “Entertainment Memorabilia including Animation Art” auction (Sale 19045). The second auction will be held at their Knightsbridge location on June 29th (catalog is currently unavailable).
The online auction catalog for the auction in Los Angeles can be viewed at Bonhams.com:
This sale includes 400 lots. Though much of the auction is comprised of Hollywood and celebrity-owned memorabilia and personal property, photographs, stills, posters/one sheets, and general “entertainment memorabilia”, there is a good selection of original props and costumes as well. Also included in the auction are letters, contracts, scripts, caricatures, paper ephemera, paintings, prints, industry awards, and other memorabilia and movie and television production material and assets.
Of particular interest are two Indiana Jones-related lots:
Raiders of the Lost Ark Fertility Idol
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A gold painted resin fertility statuette with inset plastic green eyes produced for the special effects department for use during stunt sequences in the opening Peruvian temple scene in the film. The idol is accompanied by a typed letter signed by Kit West dated May 28, 2005 on Kit West SPFX letterhead attesting to the authenticity of this piece. West won an Oscar® for his work on the film as the Special Effects Supervisor.
8 7/8 x 5 1/2in
Estimate: US$20,000 – 30,000
Raiders of the Lost Ark bullwhip
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An original plaited leather bullwhip used in the production of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The whip is accompanied by a typed letter signed by Kit West, dated September 20, 2002 on Kit West SPFX letterhead stating, “…Originally there were six whips. The one I’m giving you is the last one that is completely intact and in it’s original mint condition … If anyone questions their authenticity they can contact me for verification. As you know, I was Special Effects Supervisor on the film and won an Oscar® for my work on it.”
151in
Estimate: US$50,000 – 70,000
In the past, the Original Prop Blog has published a number of articles about fertility idols attributed to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the varying styles with comparisons to what is seen on screen in the film (see Raiders of the Lost Ark Fertility Idols In The Marketplace (“The Danziger Collection”, “Elstree Film Studios”) and Update).
Below is an updated image compilation which now includes the unique example from the upcoming Bonhams auction (far right):
Jason DeBord