Zack writes, “Here’s your chance to own the stuff that dreams are made of when one of two known lead statuettes from 1941’s THE MALTESE FALCON go on the auction block from Bonhams in New York on Nov.25. The 45-lbs. statuette has been confirmed by a Warners archivist and comes with documentation to this effect, though it likely does not contain gold and jewels beneath its exterior. Additional movie memorabilia in this auction series includes Jack Nicholson’s Joker outfit from 1989’s BATMAN and Michael Keaton’s Batsuit from BATMAN RETURNS. It is unknown if the other statuette will turn up, say, a year from now, but if you fail to win this auction and you’ve been trying to win this bird for, say, 15 years, getting the other will only require an additional expenditure of time of five and fifteen-seventeenths percent. Or you could just buy a cheaper replica off of eBay. They add character to your fireplace mantle.
Warner Bros., 1941. Cast lead with dark patina, figure of a falcon on a pedestal with smooth breast feathers, almond eyes, and rounded tail feathers. With Warner Bros. prop department inventory number “WB 90067” to rear tail feathers and underside. Some scratches to head and chest, lower right tail feather visibly bent. A copy of the DVD of the film and a reproduction still accompany this lot.Dimensions: 12 in. h. x 4 1/2 in. d. x 5 in. w.
Weight: approx. 45 lbs.
One of two known cast lead statuettes created for use in John Huston’s screen version of The Maltese Falcon, the “bent tail feather” bird, and THE ONLY STATUETTE CONFIRMED BY WARNER BROS. ARCHIVES AS HAVING APPEARED ON SCREEN.
The iconic lead statuette of the Maltese Falcon from the 1941 film of the same name