Full-size Dewback Head Original Cast

Collections

Full-size Dewback Head Original Cast

A full-size dewback head original cast from George Lucas' Star Wars: A New Hope. Dewbacks were large reptilian beasts ridden by sandtroopers around the deserts of Tatooine, as they hunted the missing droids carrying the Death Star plans. These creatures were inspired by a piece of 1975 concept art by the legendary Ron Cobb, which featured a rider atop a giant lizard. Dewbacks, designed by John Barry (Set Designer), could be spotted in the film around the port of Mos Eisley, and also appeared in promotional material for Star Wars. London-based Art Models Ltd. produced giant creature models for the film, creating one dewback and two jerba (another large beast which appears in the film). The head was placed onto the body of a prop rhinoceros and had a tail added.

After filming wrapped, the original dewback prop was destroyed, but Art Models Ltd. owner and manager Fred Pearl had created a back-up casting of the head in case the production needed it - making this the last original production made dewback head in the world. The head is made of fibreglass with glass eyes, and latex skin which was hand-painted by Pearl to look rough, and reptilian, there is evidence that it was at some point painted blue. A vintage Art Models Ltd. business card is adhered inside the head.

In the subsequent digitally remasterd Special Edition, Lucas managed to tweak the CGI animation and Dewbacks populate the scenes on Tattooine. Possibly one of the rarest Star Wars props, this is the unique, master head. It went through several colour trials and is finished in the penultimate variant, the final colour chosen for the movie being green. This was made by Fred Pearl, owner of Art Models Ltd., a freelance SFX model maker who worked with many film companies over the years producing fine models and creature effects for a myriad of films.

Dimensions (on stand): 126 cm x 53 cm x 138 cm (49 1/2" x 20 3/4" x 54 1/4")