Indy's Authentic Fedora Hat Fetches an Impressive $630,000 at Auction
In the realm of beloved cinematic icons, there's none quite as iconic as the fedora sported by everyone's favorite adventurer, Indiana Jones. When you think of Indy, visions of Harrison Ford donning that signature hat undoubtedly come to mind. And when it comes to that hat, it's safe to say it's more than just an accessory - it's a frickin' character in its own right!
Case in point? The fedora that Propstore, a film and TV memorabilia powerhouse, sold for a whopping $630,000. You guessed it - this bad boy hails from none other than The Temple of Doom. Now, while Indy flaunted multiple hats throughout the five movies, this particular headpiece is a special one, designed for the set of The Temple of Doom by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company in London.
The hat's backstory, as provided by Propstore, reveals that it was whipped up by Johnson in conjunction with the movie's costume designers, Anthony Powell and Joanna Johnston. The design is somewhat different from the hat seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark, offering a unique twist to the iconic headgear. According to the auction house, it "matches film shots, production stills, and behind-the-scenes footage of Ford in the village set on location in Sri Lanka, in the mine cart chase shot at Elstree Studios, and in the river sequence shot in the U.S."
That's not all. The hat once belonged to the late stunt performer Dean Ferrandini, and the auction lot includes unpublished photos of Ferrandini sporting his Indiana Jones getup, as well as a letter of authenticity signed by his wife.
Want more deets? Head on over to Propstore's current auction of entertainment memorabilia, which boasts over 1,400 lots, including more Indiana Jones goodies, like this chilling "Roasted Pig and Piglets Banquet Dish" prop from a deleted Temple of Doom scene. Bid online or via telephone at https://propstore.com/liveauction.
Looking for more io9 news? Check out the latest scoop on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, future plans for the DC Universe, and all the juicy details about the evolving world of Doctor Who.
Enrichment Insights:- The Indiana Jones fedora is a defining element of the character's style throughout the series, though its historical and design significance is particularly tied to the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark.- The fedora in the Smithsonian is one from Raiders of the Lost Ark, not The Temple of Doom.- Replicas of the Indiana Jones fedora have been available for purchase, but authentic and screen-used hats are rare and valuable. Authentic hats have been auctioned off for significant sums over the years, with one fedora from Raiders of the Lost Ark selling for approximately $268,000 in 2007.
- The signature fedora worn by Indiana Jones, a staple of technology-driven moviemaking, fetched an impressive $630,000 at Propstore's auction, showcasing the value placed on memorabilia from iconic films like The Temple of Doom.
- Created in collaboration with the movie's costume designers, Anthony Powell and Joanna Johnson, this fedora from The Temple of Doom presented a unique twist on the ordinary Indiana Jones hat, a design different from the one seen in the initial film, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
- The hat that once sat on Dean Ferrandini's head, a late stunt performer, is now part of Propstore's current auction, offering an exclusive lot that includes unpublished photos of Ferrandini in his Indiana Jones costume and a letter of authenticity signed by his wife.
- If you're a fan of Indiana Jones and Apple's own Siri, you might find it interesting to know that io9, a renowned source for news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who, reported the voice of Siri was modeled after Shia LaBeouf's Indiana Jones in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
