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Lot #297: POLTERGEIST (1982) - Clown Doll Replica from Original Dollmaker

Currency:GBP Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Props Start Price:10,000.00 GBP Estimated At:20,000.00 - 40,000.00 GBP
Lot #297: POLTERGEIST (1982) - Clown Doll Replica from Original Dollmaker
Please note that all bids placed through 3rd party platforms will be subject to a buyer's expense of 5%. There is no fee for bids placed on propstoreauction.com

Day 1 and 2 of the auction will be held live with in-person bidding on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th November 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN.

Please note in-person bidding is not available on Days 3 and 4 (Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November), bids can be placed online or via telephone or written absentee form.
POLTERGEIST (1982) - Clown Doll Replica from Original Dollmaker

A replica of the clown doll from Tobe Hooper's Poltergeist from the film's original dollmaker. In the film, Robbie Freeling's (Oliver Robins) clown doll grabbed and dragged him under the bed where it tried to strangle him.

Poltergeist became the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982 and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards& reg;, including Best Visual Effects. In the decades following, the film has inspired numerous sequels, a 2015 remake, and various parodies and homages, with both the New York Times and American Film Institute ranking it in their top film lists.

This doll, a similar but not exact replica of the production-made dolls, was created by original clown doll maker Annette Little circa the 1980s. Three stages of head were made for the clown doll's evil transformation in the film; this mid-transformation second stage style head was not seen in the finished film. This clown features a hand-painted plaster head with synthetic orange hair hand-sewed onto the body via holes along the neckline. Both the hat and body are made of a poly-blend sateen fabric with decorative stars and moons adhered, internal wire armatures, and polyfill stuffing.

The stitching of the frills and vest still retain their original blue colour, while the majority of the fabric on the cuffs and hat has faded from age to a softer pink tone, as all the clown dolls from production did. This doll exhibits snagged threads, torn fabric, discolouration, and faded colour. Dimensions: 122 cm x 61 cm x 25.5 cm (48" x 24" x 10")

Estimate: GBP 20000 - 40000 US

Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, November 9th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST 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 Friday, November 10th, Saturday, November 11th or Sunday, November 12th.