Alien artist HR Giger’s Space Jockey model to sell

HR Giger’s model for the foreboding “Space Jockey” from classic sci-fi horror Alien (1979) will auction at Nate D Sanders on October 26. 

It’s hand painted by the Swiss artist, who was the designer behind the jaw-dropping Alien creature and the strange world beyond the walls of the spaceship Nostromo.

Giger Alien model

Giger's distinctive work set the tone for the movie 

Scriptwriter Dan O’Bannon came across Giger’s singularly unsettling work in the mid-70s.

He wrote: "His paintings had a profound effect on me.

“I had never seen anything that was quite as horrible and at the same time as beautiful as his work. And so I ended up writing a script about a Giger monster."

The studio, 20th Century Fox, originally refused to hire Giger as a designer, but O’Bannon and director Ridley Scott insisted.

The Space Jockey set piece was one of the most expensive of the entire movie. This is one of three known maquettes for the scene.

It was presented to Peater Beale, a 20th Century Fox executive, and is offered with an estimate in excess of $100,000.

In 2010, one of the original alien headpieces from the movie achieved $60,000 at Profiles in History.

Click here to check out our extraordinary collection of movie memorabilia for sale.

The sale will also feature the slightly more genteel prospect of a paintbrush owned and used by much-loved American artist Norman Rockwell.

It was given as a gift to a Reverend Paul John Rich and is accompanied by the artist’s signature.

Bidding starts at $12,000.

Discover the amazing story behind the Rockwell painting selling at Heritage Auctions in November.

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about movie memorabilia auctions.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock