This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/24/2024
Bob Flanagan Original Star Wars "Yoda" Prototype attributed to the Jim Henson New York Muppet Workshop
Famed director George Lucas knew that the character of "Yoda" from the Star Wars movies had to be beyond memorable - it had to be iconic. Thus, Lucas approached several puppeteers in his search. We believe this Yoda prototype, created in the Jim Henson studios is most likely one of the original Yoda prototypes because Lucas went to Jim Henson New York Workshop first. This original Yoda prototype attributed to the Jim Henson Muppet Workshop comes directly from the personal collection of pioneer puppeteer Bob Flanagan, who worked alongside Jim Henson at the New York Muppet Studio
From the Muppets, to SNL and Off-Broadway, Bob Flanagan conquered it all! Flanagan made puppets since the “glory days” of puppetry—working alongside Jim Henson making secondary and background characters for the Muppets and Sesame Street—as well as 27 seasons of Saturday Night Live, .Bob Flanagan, who passed away this year, was a puppet builder who worked in the New York Muppet Workshop with Jim Henson in the 1980s. As part of the Sesame Street team, he shared in a Daytime Emmy Award win for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design. Robert also created Puppets for the hit TV Series "Fragile Rock", "The Muppets take Manhattan", "Follow That Bird" "Twisted Puppet Theatre" and more, Flanagan operated his own company, Den Design Studio, which supplied puppets, costumes, and specialty props for Saturday Night Live and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (including Sesame-style puppets on the latter). He also worked extensively on stage productions, including puppets and props for the Broadway production of Wicked (including the Time Dragon and Lion Cub) and puppet and mask designs for off-Broadway shows Beowulf, The Hairy Ape, and The Emperor Jones (the last earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Costume Design).
Comes with a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.