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The Original Sculpt of Mister Spock's Ears.

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
The Original Sculpt of Mister Spock's Ears.
SOLD
8,000.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2024 Sep 21 @ 10:14UTC-7 : PDT/MST
All items are sold as is. Contact Van Eaton Galleries for condition reports and shipping information. 25% Buyer's Premium for all lots.

Please be aware there is a $5000 deposit required for any bidding over $50,000 that will be charged to the card on file. This deposit will be credited to your invoice or refunded after the auction.

(Desilu, 1966) The original hand-sculpted forms for the pointed ears of Spock on the original series of “Star Trek.” As the second pilot for “Star Trek” was readying for production, Mr. Spock’s pointed ears looked “pretty bad” according to actor Leonard Nimoy. The company that was contracted by Desilu to provide all the effects for the show was not up to the delicate work of creating realistic make-up appliances, and using another company would incur great expense. The network was pressuring Producer Gene Roddenberry to tone down or even eliminate Spock, but Roddenberry insisted Spock’s “otherworldly-ness” was crucial to the series. The head of make-up Fred Phillips, without consulting the Studio, took Nimoy to John Chambers lab to cast the first ever of what would become very famous Vulcan ear tips. Leonard Nimoy first met John Chambers on April 17, 1966 when Chambers used the existing “defective” ear molds to create prosthetics using his own techniques. The pointed ears passed approval, and Nimoy returned on June 1st to have his ears cast to make the perfect fit foam appliances that would be used through all three seasons of the Original Series. John Chambers sculpted the ears in dental wax, a material he was familiar with since working as a dental technician in World War II. The wax is designed to soften at body temperature to shape, and these fragile artifacts have been carefully preserved in a safe for decades. The lot includes the John Chambers Studio invoice for the June 1st ear molds and first set of new tips, and the Desilu Studios paperwork to match. Also included are two handwritten notes and an envelope with notation by John Chambers detailing those early sessions with Nimoy, and three photos including two prints of Chambers with Nimoy, and a 1974 Paramount Studios portrait photo of Spock with a caption attributing his ears to “John Chambers expertise.” The photos are in very good condition with the 8” x 10” publicity photo showing wear from handling, with Chambers’ note taped to the bottom. The invoice and paperwork measure 8” x 8” and are in very good condition with typical wear from age and handling. The delicate original ear tip sculpts each measure 2.5” long and have been expertly preserved, displaying in fine condition. This item requires special shipping arrangements, please inquire before bidding. Live long and prosper!