Tate Britain’s The Art of Ray Harryhausen ended yesterday but now Ewbank’s is offering 140 lots from the collection of Tony Dalton, biographer and friend of Harryhausen.
Dalton has consigned his group to Ewbank’s and has signed a letter to accompany each lot.
Known as the ‘master of model stop-motion animation’, American-born Harryhausen (1920-2013) was one of the most influential figures in cinema history due to the special effects he employed on his films such as Clash of the Titans and Jason and The Argonauts.
Many of the lots in Ewbank’s December 13 sale were either given directly to Dalton by Harryhausen as gifts or from sources such as Columbia Pictures UK.
Dalton worked with Harryhausen for more than 40 years and as his biographer he compiled and wrote a total of five volumes. He also worked for him organising his charitable foundation and archive.
Highlights of the collection include:
- A prototype Hydra head and neck, made by Harryhausen for the 1963 film Jason and the Argonauts, estimated at £8000-12,000.
- A production-used wooden clapperboard from the 1981 epic Clash Of The Titans, which starred Laurence Olivier, was given to Dalton by Harryhausen, who kept another for himself. This one is offered at £3000-5000.
- A set of eight silvered bronze sculptures made by Raven Armoury for the 50th anniversary of Jason and The Argonauts, numbered edition 2/250, is estimated at £1500-2500.
- A 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) US One Sheet film poster, signed by Ray Harryhausen, which was given to Dalton in 1979, is estimated at £400-600.
- A rubber walrus model made by Harryhausen for Sinbad and The Eye of The Tiger (1977) was a stand-in for the film. The character appeared in the mythical land of Hyperborea and is estimated at £4000-6000.
