A fascinating 20th century plaster hand mounted on a bespoke steel stand from the collection of British make-up artist, Christopher Tucker. This is just one of many plaster casts we are selling from Tucker’s outstanding collection, capturing the features and details of the faces and limbs of iconic British actors from theatre and film.

Life Casting

While an unusual practice to most, plaster casts like these are commonplace in the world of acting. Also known as life casting, the process involves creating a three-dimensional mould of a head, limb or body part, capturing every detail in precise and intricate definition – from the single wrinkle of a knuckle to very tip of a fingernail.

Once set and removed, the cast can be filled with plaster and used to create a highly detailed replica of the person’s body part, which can later be used to craft creative prosthetics for film and theatre.

This plaster cast of a hand and forearm is one such example of a life cast, created by the highly celebrated Christopher Tucker. To the modern collector, it will make an eye-catching and unusual piece for sculptural interior display.

Christopher Tucker

Christopher Tucker (1941-2022) was an award-winning British make-up artist, specialising in prosthetics for theatre and film. Over his vast career, Tucker worked on a number of famous film and theatrical sets, creating prosthetics for the likes of The Phantom of the Opera, Star Wars and The Company of Wolves, as well as the spectacular transformation of John Hurt into The Elephant Man.

Following Tucker’s death in 2022, his expansive collection of film memorabilia was sold, including a vast collection of plaster busts and casts of English actors he’d worked with over the years.