Christies Goes Geek

By Rob Last edited 232 months ago
Christies Goes Geek

We like it when London's more snooty establishment go a bit populist so we were glad to read that Christie's is aiming itself at the upper echelons of the geek community with its massive auction of "entertainment memorabilia" next month.

Of all the catalogue highlights, the Imperial Stormtrooper's helmet which was made for Star Wars and was also used in The Empire Strikes Back, has to be the geekiest. It's also one of the priciest with an estimated value of between £5,000 and £7,000.

chaplin moustache.jpg

Maybe not as geeky but way more expensive is James Bond's moon buggy from Diamonds Are Forever (estimate: £20,000-30,000).

But if you want something a little bit hairier to give to a loved one this Christmas then you need look no further than Charlie Chaplin's moustache. The prop 'tache (which actually looks like some sort of hairy caterpillar sellotaped to some cardboard) was used by Chaplin in The Great Dictator, and is attached to a note written by the little tramp (by which we mean Chaplin, not Christina Aguilera).

Other highlights include a prop bat used in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (yours for under a grand maybe?), and Londonist's personal favourite: A black felt Homberg hat "believed to be worn by Tony Hancock in the BBC production Hancocks Half Hour".

Although we're not sure if we really trust that word "believed". Especially after the Sothebys/Damien Hirst debacle of last month.

Last Updated 10 November 2004