|
A lead statue of a bird from in the classic 1941 detective thriller 'The Maltese Falcon' featuring Humphrey Bogart has sold for more than $4 million.
An unidentified buyer paid a hefty $4,085,000 for the 45-pound, 12-inch-tall prop, according to Bonhams auction house, which sold the item.
The black figurine of a falcon on a pedestal with smooth breast feathers, almond eyes, and rounded tail feathers is one of two known cast lead statuettes made for the film.
Sold: The lead statue of a bird, pictured, from in the classic 1941 detective thriller 'The Maltese Falcon' featuring Humphrey Bogart has sold for more than $4 million
However, Warner Bros. archives confirm it was the only statue to actually appear in John Huston's directorial debut, Bonhams [3] said.
The auction house declined to provide a pre-sale estimate for the item, which was offered up along with other classic movie memorabilia.
The winning bid came over the phone.
The bird has a Warner Bros. inventory number 'WB 90067' etched to rear tail feathers and underside of the bird and also bears the name of the movie.
Only one: Warner Bros. archives confirm the statue, right, was the only one to actually appear in John Huston's directorial debut, left
Humphrey Bogart plays San Francisco detective Sam Spade in the film. Spade tangles with three nefarious characters played by Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, all of whom are chasing a statuette they believe to be a gold and jewel-encrusted figure of a falcon, but which ultimately is revealed to be made of lead.
The figurine has some damage, a bent right tail feather and some scratches to the head and chest, though that may have heightened rather than hindered its sale price because it was incurred during filming.
Famous: Humphrey Bogart, pictured, plays San Francisco detective Sam Spade in the film
Plot: Spade tangles with three nefarious characters played by Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, all of whom are chasing a statuette they believe to be a gold and jewel-encrusted figure of a falcon, but which ultimately is revealed to be made of lead
According to Bonhams, actress Lee Patrick, who played Spade's secretary, Effie, dropped it while handing it to Bogart.
The statue's unidentified owner bought it privately in the 1980s.
It has been exhibited at the Warner Bros. Studio Museum, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
A copy of the DVD of the film and a reproduction still accompanied the falcon.
References
- ^ Helen Pow (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ 2 View comments (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Bonhams (www.bonhams.com)
0 comments:
Post a Comment