There is never a dull day at The Identity Store. Recently Peter was asked to offer some technical thoughts on the iconic leather coat that Roy Batty (Played by the late Rutger Hauer ) wore in Ridley Scott's 1982 film- Blade Runner (Set in the future of 2019!!). It was designed by the great Charles Knode. Charles won a BAFTA Award (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Blade Runner - Best Costume Design, with Michael Kaplan. The coat was sold for charity when production ended.
On the death of the owner it was offered for Auction by his widow through Propstore . Estimated at £30,000 to £60,000 the iconic coat realised an amazing £187,500, in their 'Entertainment Memorabilia Auction' this November.
It appears to have been made from several skins stitched together, and had orange tubing for the piping. The coat then seems to have been sprayed black all over.
It has lasted incredibly well considering the conditions on set during the shoot. Exteriors were shot at the Warner Brothers Studio at night, with water being sprayed constantly, partly for atmosphere, but also to help disguise that they were were shooting on a back lot.
Thank you so much to Bladerunner fan Germaine Plunkett for sharing this wonderful story, photo stills and the concept sketch with us.
Propstore Lot # 81 : BLADE RUNNER (1982) - Roy Batty's (Rutger Hauer) Screen-matched Leather Coat
Germaine went to see the coat before the auction to find out what she could about it.
Stephen Lane (PropStore) has had the coat checked by a conservator from the V&A. They said that any damage to the skins is now stable, and was caused by water damage on the set. (To give Ridley the Dystopian feel he wanted, the entire set was often awash with 'rain' ). Germaine was amazed at how soft and flexible the leather remained after 40+ years.
This drawing is the concept sketch by Charles Knode. Charles remembers finding the tubing for the piping in a junk shop, possibly like that used for Bunsen Burners. It is predominantly machine sewn with one seam sewn by hand and appears to be lined with leather on the inside. The leather is very similar to upholstery type hide.
The overall length was 122cm (4ft), and the piping 14mm diameter.
Shots showing the coat now (left) and as it was in 1982
Click to see more stills from the film kindly provided by Germaine Plunkett
"I've... seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time.. to.. die."
Tears in the rain - monologue written by David Peoples and altered by Rutger Hauer acting the part of the dying Roy Batty - Bladerunner 1982.
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