1979 Alien Facehugger Animatronic Prop Conservation & Updated Display
Our conservation and updated display for a screen used Alien facehugger prop used in the 1979 film.
An incredibly rare original piece of Hollywood history, this original animatronic facehugger prop was used in the 1979 sci-fi classic, Alien. Sold at a recent Prop Store auction, our client had the item shipped directly to us for conservation and to update the display with a clever twist!
Any conservation begins with hours of careful cleaning and this movie prop facehugger project began that way. We worked to conserve the original latex material, sealing and bonding any small cracks and addressing tears to help the piece hold up for years to come. Large, heavy lead weights were discovered in the “lungs” of the beast (one had actually torn through in the past) and those were set aside, filling those areas with inert polyester batting to remove that element of stress. These pieces were preserved separately for our client.
The original display was quite clever and immediately brought the John Hurt scene from the film to mind. We created a new base and backer to elevate the included head form higher, but the biggest change was to core that head out, making the bottom and face hollow and open. With a mirror strategically placed on the base of the display, viewers can now see right into the mechanics of the original animatronic prop and the movie magic from 1979!
We are proud to have helped conserve this incredible film prop from one of our favorite films!
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