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Edward Bellingham's mummy head made by legendary makeup effects artist Dick Smith circa 1960s for an unproduced adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's short horror story "Lot No. 249." In the story, Egyptologist Bellingham reanimated an ancient Egyptian mummy to dispatch his enemies.
First published in Harper's in September 1892, "Lot No. 249" was widely heralded for its groundbreaking depiction of a mummy who represented a deadly threat to living people. Having already influenced such esteemed genre writers as Anne Rice and H. P. Lovecraft, the story has since been adapted multiple times for film and television, including in John Harrison and George A. Romero's Tales from the Darkside: The Movie and more recently in the BBC's A Ghost Story for Christmas anthology.
This head was hand-sculpted by Smith circa the 1960s to help pitch a series adaptation to studios, but the series was ultimately unproduced, in part because Bellingham's mummy was intended to be fast-moving in an era where the undead were more commonly depicted as lumbering dolts. Surviving materials from development on the series are today extraordinarily scarce, with this head originating from the collection of Smith.
Made from clay with resin and fabric detailing, this ornately detailed head is hand-painted and textured to appear necrotic with bulging neon-green eyes, scraggly synthetic hair applied on the sides, and rotting teeth. It comes mounted through the neck to a custom display base. The head shows evidence of wear throughout consistent with handling and age, including cracking, peeling, and loss of hair. Dimensions: (displayed) 9" x 9" x 14.5" (23 cm x 23 cm x 37 cm)
Estimate: $800 - 1,600
View all lots from LOT NO. 249 (UNPRODUCED)
View all lots from Dick Smith Collection
Regarded as "The Godfather of Makeup," renowned special makeup effects artist and author Richard Emerson Smith, known professionally as Dick Smith, was a pre-med student at Yale University when he encountered the theatrical makeup book Paint, Powder and Makeup that changed the trajectory of his life. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Smith began his illustrious career in television as the first makeup director of WNBC. Entirely self-taught, Smith pioneered the development of prosthetic and practical makeup with techniques that are now considered the standard in film and television, such as making prosthetics in multiple pieces to allow actors full range of facial expression. He is also credited with creating realistic age makeup as an alternative to prosthetics, blending special effects with hidden bladders and squibs, and for innovating the combination of makeup with on-set "practical" effects, as seen in William Friedkin's The Exorcist (1973).
In a time where makeup artists were secretive about their techniques and unions purposely suppressed the sharing of knowledge, Smith proved to be a generous soul, mentoring and training many younger artists who went on to accomplished careers in cinema, including Rick Baker, Mike Marino, Greg Cannom, and many more. Smith went as far as publishing an instructional book in 1965 titled Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-up Handbook as a special edition of Forrest J. Ackerman's "Famous Monsters of Filmland" series.
With a career that spanned over six decades, Smith is today best known for his work on such classics as Little Big Man (1970), The Godfather (1972), Taxi Driver (1976), Altered States (1980), Scanners (1981), The Hunger (1983), Starman (1984), and Death Becomes Her (1992). In 1985, he won an Academy Award® for Best Makeup for his work on Amadeus, as well as a BAFTA® the following year. He was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences twice with special tribute ceremonies in 2009 and again in 2011, the latter including an Honorary Academy Award® presented by his most acclaimed protégé, Rick Baker. Smith left an indelible legacy in film and television, represented by a curated collection he carefully maintained throughout his career. Propstore is pleased to present these select artifacts from this legendary artist's personal collection, reflecting a distinguished career spanning decades in Hollywood and beyond.
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.