Original mechanical ET model expected to fetch up to £2.6m at auction

2022-11-01

E.T. going home? Original mechanical model used in Spielberg’s Oscar-winning 1982 film is set to fetch $3million when it is up for auction next month

Model has 85 points of movement and operated by 12 professional animators
Predated CGI technology and was regarded as an engineering masterpiece
It is set to fetch up to $3 million at auction when it goes up for sale next month

The original mechanical model used in E.T is set to fetch $3 million at auction when it goes up for sale next month.

The model, which appeared in the 1982 film directed by Steven Spielberg, has 85 points of movement and was operated by twelve professional animators.

It predated CGI technology and was regarded as an engineering masterpiece, originally created by Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi.

The model, which appeared in the 1982 film directed by Steven Spielberg, has 85 points of movement and was operated by twelve professional animators

Rambaldi, pictured with the ET maquette model which is also up for auction, won the Best Visual Effects award for ET

It is being sold as part of the Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction. The auction was organized by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

The auction coincides with the 40th anniversary of the film. E.T The Extra Terrestrial was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning four including best visual effects.

Rambaldi and his team won the award. The film starred Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, and featured a score by composer John Williams.

Other items from the film are going up for sale including the original ET maquette model made for Steven Spielberg to approve the ET design.

It is estimated that the design will make between 80 and 100,000 dollars (£70-87,000).

Also, a series of original ET blueprint mechanical illustrations are going on sale for between 10 and 20,000 dollars (£8,600-17,000) each.

Elsewhere, items from the Harry Potter franchise are also expected to fetch hundreds of thousands, including a selection of prop broomsticks belonging to Daniel Radcliffe.

Pictured: Concept drawings from E.T that were drawn by Rambaldi

Elsewhere, items from the Harry Potter franchise are also expected to fetch hundreds of thousands, including a selection of prop broomsticks belonging to Daniel Radcliffe

The models include the original Nimbus 2000 from Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, which could go for up to 100,000 dollars (£87,000), and a Shooting Star prop broom, which is estimated at between 30-50,000 dollars (£26-43,000).

An original Gryffindor wool overcoat and red and yellow Gryffindor scarf designed for Harry Potter is priced at between 20-30,000 dollars (£17-26,000).

A Gryffindor Quidditch team stunt robe from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets may fetch up to 20,000 dollars (£17,000).

The Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction is due to take place live on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday December 18 in Beverly Hills.

Source: Read Full Article