Nov 5, 2025 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
59
An original stage-worn costume from the first production of Equus
EQUUS
John Napier designed horse mask and platform stilts from the original Broadway production of Equus. Circa 1976. The headpiece wicker, leather, and silver reflective tape. Approximately 25 x 10 x 18 inches; the metal stilts attached to lace-up leather uppers. Offered with an enlarged newspaper print from the original run of Equus. Circa 1976. Halftone print mounted on foam board, 12½ x 11¼ inches (32 x 29 cm).
Provenance: by consignor report, this stage-used costume was bought at a Broadway Cares auction but no materials accompany the lot.
This set is one of a few sets made for the horse-god characters in the original Broadway run of Peter Shaffer's Equus. Designer John Napier followed Shaffer's dictum that for the horse costumes "any literalism which could suggest the cosy familiarly of a domestic animal - or worse, a pantomime horse - should be avoided" Napier's folk-inspired costumes are iconic and truly haunting.
EQUUS
John Napier designed horse mask and platform stilts from the original Broadway production of Equus. Circa 1976. The headpiece wicker, leather, and silver reflective tape. Approximately 25 x 10 x 18 inches; the metal stilts attached to lace-up leather uppers. Offered with an enlarged newspaper print from the original run of Equus. Circa 1976. Halftone print mounted on foam board, 12½ x 11¼ inches (32 x 29 cm).
Provenance: by consignor report, this stage-used costume was bought at a Broadway Cares auction but no materials accompany the lot.
This set is one of a few sets made for the horse-god characters in the original Broadway run of Peter Shaffer's Equus. Designer John Napier followed Shaffer's dictum that for the horse costumes "any literalism which could suggest the cosy familiarly of a domestic animal - or worse, a pantomime horse - should be avoided" Napier's folk-inspired costumes are iconic and truly haunting.
Auction: Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nov 5, 2025
-
Popular Stage & Screen Auction on November 5, 2025 Attracted Global Audience
-
Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs Celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
-
Archive of Samuel Beckett Material from the Estate of His American Director Alan Schneider Topped $75,000
-
Sale Featured a Special Section Devoted to the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's popular Stage & Screen auction on November 5, 2025 attracted fans and collectors around the world vying for an exciting range of offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
The Estate of Alan Schneider
Featured in the sale was fascinating collection of early Waiting for Godot material from the Estate of Alan Schneider that topped $75,000 amid trans-Atlantic competition. “The primary American director of Samuel Beckett plays” and a close friend of the playwright, Alan Schneider died in 1984, and his widow died at 101 this past summer. This remarkable archive offered an extraordinary glimpse into the creative partnership between Schneider and Beckett, spanning decades of groundbreaking theatrical work. Highlights included Schneider’s annotated working copy of Waiting for Godot used in the landmark American production, an inscribed typescript of Eh Joe, and first editions and presentation copies of Endgame and Happy Days, many personally inscribed to Schneider by Beckett. Other treasures included manuscripts, letters, awards, recordings and posters that document a pivotal collaboration in modern theater history. Read more
The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Doyle was honored to offer a sequel to the successful 2011 auction of property from the estate of the legendary actor. Featured in the sale were artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia. Read More.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
