Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Stanley Kubrick's Personal Archive Up for Auction

A significant portion of Stanley Kubrick's personal archive, featuring iconic props and personal items, is being auctioned by Bonhams. The collection includes artifacts from his most celebrated films, offering a rare glimpse into the filmmaker's creative process.

The auction will feature the prop fire ax used by Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining,' estimated to sell for up to $66,000. This special effects weapon, made of polyfoam with metalized sheeting and foil tape, was designed with bolts to rupture fake blood bags. The ax was part of Kubrick's personal collection and shows minor signs of fake blood on the handle.

Other notable items from 'The Shining' include the costumes worn by the Grady twins. The auction also includes the 27-inch fiberglass 'Star Baby' prop from '2001: A Space Odyssey,' which is expected to fetch over $1.1 million. This enigmatic image is described as representing evolution and ambiguity.

The collection extends to other Kubrick films, with items from '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'Spartacus,' 'Barry Lyndon,' 'Full Metal Jacket,' and 'Eyes Wide Shut' also available. A director's chair used throughout Kubrick's career, annotated scripts, and his personal chess set are among the other offerings.

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado inspired Stephen King's novel 'The Shining,' though Kubrick filmed his adaptation primarily in England, with exterior shots at Timberline Lodge in Oregon.

Kubrick's stepdaughter, Katharina Kubrick, expressed pride in sharing these items, hoping they will be cherished by future generations of film enthusiasts.

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