About this piece
back to topA fascinating 20th century painted plaster bust of Winston Churchill from the collection of British make-up artist, Christopher Tucker.
Considered one of the greatest Prime Ministers in British history, Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) served as British Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, leading the country to victory. He served as Prime Minister again from 1951 – 1955.
Cast by Tucker, this plaster bust is a copy of the one in Madame Tussauds. It comes mounted on a custom-made display plinth as pictured, making it a perfect collector’s display piece.
This is just one of many face casts and plaster busts we are selling from Tucker’s outstanding collection, capturing the facial features and minute details of iconic 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 an eyelid to the individual pores of a nose.
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 bust 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 face casts of actors he’d worked with over the years.
Additional Information
Head only: H32.5 x W19 x D23 cm
Includes large base with metal support: ø25.5 x H9.5 cm