Iconic X-Men props up for grabs at Toronto auction
If you've ever wanted to own Wolverine's claws or Nightcrawler's tail, now's your chance. A treasure trove of X-Men props, costumes and make-up effects are for sale along with screen-used memorabilia from Jacob's Ladder, Johnny Mnemonic, JFK, Platoon and Legends of the Fall (among others) as part of Hollywood North: The FXSMITH Studio Collection Auction.
Bidders will also find a silicone bust of Wolverine's head, worn by Hugh Jackman's stunt double, Sabretooth's claws and Toad's tongue, along with early character concept sketches. Starting bids range from $30 to $2,500.
"This auction really takes you behind the scenes - an exploration of the magic and the imagination of some of Hollywood's most popular and provocative movies" says Duncan McLean, president of Waddington's, the Toronto-based auction company conducting the sale.
The massive collection, including a life-size mannequin featuring Mystique's barely-there silicone costume, is the work of Canadian special effects master Gordon Smith and his FXSMITH studio.
Smith retired at the height of his career in 2006 and sold much of his work to Billy Jamieson - a locally famous dealer and collector of art, artifacts and oddities. The negotiation for the items is actually chronicled on an episode of Jamieson's own reality show - Treasure Trader on History Television - where the Mystique costume can later be seen prominently featured in Jamieson's home.
Jamieson himself died of a heart attack in 2011 and his fiancee Jessica Lindsay Phillips (who some might remember from the CBC show Four Rooms) is now selling the FXSMITH items passed down to her.
The auction runs from 9:00 am EST on March 23 (today) to 2:00 pm EST on March 26 on the Waddington's website with a public preview being held on Monday from 10 am to noon at the Waddington's offices at 275 King Street East, 2nd floor.
Writing by Aaron Broverman.
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