The 10 most Lynchian items at the David Lynch auction — and how much they sold for
It was a damn fine auction — damn fine!
On Wednesday, Turner Classic Movies and Julien's Auctions invited David Lynch disciples to bid on over 450 items from the late, great filmmaker's personal archive. The auction took place at the Beverly Hills branch of the Peninsula hotel empire, with participants able to bid in-person and virtually.
The full arc of Lynch's pioneering career was on display, starting with early Eraserhead memorabilia before taking a left turn at Twin Peaks and heading straight on into Inland Empire. All in, the auction brought in $4.25 million from the filmmaker's fans and admirers still mourning his passing in January at age 78. That price tag buys a heck of a lot of spice melange.
In honor of Lynch's 10 feature films, we rounded up the 10 most Lynchian items that were on the block on Wednesday — and how much they sold for.
1. David Lynch-made incense holder
Crafted by the director himself in the long, long ago year of 1974, this 2.75 x 3 x 3-inch cube is a fragrant addition to any household. If you really want to freak out your fellow Lynch fans, paint it blue.
Sold price: $52,000
2. La Marzocco GS/3 home espresso machine
Here's at least one thing Agent Dale Cooper and Lynch have in common: they love their coffee. The filmmaker invested in a pricey made-in-Italy espresso maker for his morning, afternoon and evening cup of joe. Three models were available, but the largest one received understandably received the highest bid.
Sold price: $45,500
As Brad Pitt would say: What's in the box? This old-school metal lunch pail housed a grab-bag of random Lynch tchotchkes, including a Daffy Duck figure (minus his looney head), an oversized commemorative U.S. penny and a never-opened box of trading cards celebrating blues musicians. We like to imagine that's what the director brought to school with him everyday growing up.
Sold price: $13,000
Here's one thing you can say about Lynch: he walked softly, but carried a good-sized megaphone. It's unclear which sets this particular audio enhancing device might have visited, but at least the director had it on hand for whenever friends like Laura Dern stopped by to visit. It's one of several megaphones that were auctioned off and attracted the highest bid.
Sold price: $11,700
5. Personalized handmade Christmas stocking and postcards
Now here's something you'll want to hang by the chimney with care. Lynch's first name adorns a childlike Christmas stocking that came with a selection of vintage Yuletide postcards. Here's hoping the log burning in the fireplace didn't belong to the Log Lady.
Sold price: $10,400
6. Tony Bassett No. 1 Electronics Theremin
Of course, David Lynch could play the theremin. And for a $10K sale price — plus the cost of a 9v battery — now some lucky Lynch fan can keep the music going.
Sold price: $10,400
All in all, it's just Lynch's piece of the Berlin Wall. Chiseled off just as 1989 gave way to 1990, it's a chance to own a piece of political history — and the director's personal history.
Sold price: $9,100
Good things travel in sixes — like these six lamps shaped like flying saucers. UFO imagery is all over Twin Peaks, so it makes sense that it would also be present in Lynch's humble abode.
Sold price: $5,200
9. VCR/DVD combo with Lynch interviews on both formats
Why bother searching for old Lynch interviews on YouTube when the director helpfully collected them on VHS and DVD with an accompanying combo player? Kudos on being a physical media guy in a streaming world.
Sold price: $4,550
10. EcoloBlue Atmospheric Water Generator
The one item that didn't crack the $1,000 mark may also be the oddest of them all: an unopened atmospheric water generator complete with Lynch's name still on the shipping label. At least it wasn't addressed to Arrakis.
Sold price: $910