Plaster Bust of Peter Polycarpou Ex. Tucker Collection

A fascinating 20th century painted plaster bust of Peter Polycarpou from the collection of British make-up artist, Christopher Tucker. English- Cypriot actor Polycarpou (born 1957) is best known for roles in the television series Birds of a Feather and the 1999 film Oklahoma!. From 3rd December 1991 to 2nd May 1992, he starred as The Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in which Tucker was the wig designer.

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 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 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 of actor Peter Polycarpou 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 English actors he’d worked with over the years.