The metal skeleton of King Kong has sold for £121,250 / $200,305 at a Christie’s auction.

Christie’s website says the 22-inch armature “was designed by Willis O’Brien for the largest of the miniature models of the gorilla King Kong used in the Empire State building sequences in the climax of the 1933 RKO masterpiece of stop-motion animation King Kong” (starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot). Manufactured in the RKO Studios’ Miniature Department Workshops from steel and various alloys, the skeleton comprises “a sophisticated system of interlocking ball and socket joints, bolts and screws which combine to give a remarkable degree of articulation in even the tiniest of joints.”

The armature was bought by an anonymous client who was bidding in the room, according to Art Daily.

Neil Roberts, Head of Popular Memorabilia, Christie’s London, said, “This King Kong armature was instrumental in filming one of the most recognizable sequences in cinema history, and as such it is an exceptional relic of film memorabilia. We are thrilled to have seen such excitement leading up to the auction and to have been able to exhibit the model to the public for the first time, and we are pleased to have realized a notable price which reflects its importance. The results throughout today’s sale illustrate that collectors continue to be drawn to items which resonate with their passions for popular culture; be it the golden age of cinema, Marilyn Monroe or James Bond.”

The auction took in a total of $858,153. Art Daily says other highlights included a very rare original puppet of Father Stanley Unwin from the Gerry Anderson T.V. series ‘The Secret Service,’ which sold for $30,975; a black silk evening dress previously owned by Marilyn Monroe which sold for $15,488; and a pair of sunglasses worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Quantum of Solace,’ which fetched $1,961.

(Image: Christie’s.com)

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