More than 40 years ago make-up artist Christopher Tucker was hired to create the prosthetics that would transform John Hurt into the Joseph Merrick in David Lynch’s film The Elephant Man.

Now following his death in December, aged 81, one of the casts made for the iconic 1980 film, along with other incredible artwork for films including The Company of Wolves, and the stage musical The Phantom of the Opera, are going under the hammer in Hull.

Lynch had first been determined to make the prosthetics himself.

But it didn't work and with shooting about to begin, there was a "mega panic".

Auctioneer Andrew Baitson with the mould made to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man.

A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker.
Tucker was hired 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man.
As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards.
13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson — Auctioneer Andrew Baitson with the mould made to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man. A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker. Tucker was hired 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man. As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards. 13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson

Merrick’s skeleton was sent over from the London Hospital Museum, and with the help of photographs, Tucker was able to create a life-like bust of his 36 inch head, capable of evoking pity as well as horror.

"It comprised of some 15 sections that all had to overlap,” he recalled in an interview. “The two sections that made up the head, the top part which had hair implanted, had to be reusable. It was very complex."

An appreciation of the work involved led to the creation of the Best Make-up category at the Academy Awards, which was first awarded in 1981.

One of Tucker’s other notable artistic creations was for The Company of Wolves, in which a man is transforms into a wolf.

Bust' of Laurence Olivier, and masks of Robert D'Niro, and Jon Pertwee.

A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker.
Tucker was hired over 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man.
As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards.
13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson — Bust' of Laurence Olivier, and masks of Robert D'Niro, and Jon Pertwee. A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker. Tucker was hired over 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man. As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards. 13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson

The collection came to fourth generation Gilbert Baitson Auctioneers in Hull after a 5,000sq ft warehouse crammed with items belonging to Tucker was cleared in Berkshire.

It contains around 140 casts of faces including a few well known actors as well as filmscripts and storyboards. Most look uncomfortable having to breathe through a straw after being slathered with alginate and plaster to make the mould.

Amidst the sinister array is a bust of Sir Laurence Olivier, two of third Doctor Who Jon Pertwee and one of the Phantom of the Opera’s face, marked MC – probably Michael Crawford, its original star.

Elsewhere poking out from a leg clad in a white stocking is a buckled shoe with a werewolf’s claws.

A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker.
Tucker was hired 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man.
As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards.
13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson — A Hull auctioneer is selling some of the artworks from the extraordinary collection of prosthetic artist Christopher Tucker. Tucker was hired 40 years ago to transform John Hurt into the hideously deformed Joseph Merrick in David Lynch's film The Elephant Man. As well as the mould which was used to create the convincing latex face coverings for the actor, there are more than 100 other busts and body parts as well as film scripts and storyboards. 13 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson

In a show case an automaton of a gorilla, operated by hydraulics, can curl his – rather perished - lips and blink his eyelashes.

But the undoubted star of the show is the Elephant Man – scribbled across the front of the bust is the note: “Don’t forget the ear. Work it well into skin.”

Macabre they may be but auctioneer Andrew Baitson says there is a market for the casts – although they are impossible to price. "Some people will like creepy,” he said.

"The Elephant Man has to be unique – where else are you going to find another one?

“Is it £300 to £500, or £3,000 to £5,000 – I think it would be the lower end.”

The online auction will run until Sunday January 28

Visit: https://gilbert-baitson.co.uk/

Creepy collection of special effects artwork including head of The Elephant Man found in warehouse