David Lynch Auction Fetches $4.25M: Scripts & Memorabilia Sell Big

The recent auction of director David Lynch’s personal collection ignited significant interest among cinephiles and collectors worldwide. While celebrity auctions are common, the sale of items belonging to the late auteur, known for his distinctively surreal and often mysterious work, created a unique buzz. Conducted by Julien’s Auctions in partnership with Turner Classic Movies, the event offered nearly 450 items from Lynch’s filmography and personal life.

Held live at the Peninsula Beverly Hills on June 18, with simultaneous global online participation, the auction saw hundreds of fans and collectors engaging in a “bidding frenzy.” This intense competition drove the final total to an impressive $4.25 million. The auction took place five months after Lynch’s passing in January at the age of 78.

A Deep Dive into Lynch’s Creative and Personal World

The diverse collection provided an unparalleled glimpse into the multifaceted world of David Lynch, spanning his renowned career and private interests. Items ranged from production materials, props, and memorabilia tied to iconic works like Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Dune, and Inland Empire, to pieces connected to his tantalizing unfinished projects. Beyond the silver screen, the auction also featured personal effects that underscored Lynch’s known passions and creative outlets outside of filmmaking, including musical instruments, recording equipment, fine art, furniture (some designed and built by Lynch himself), home decor, tools from his woodshop, and notably, items reflecting his famous love for coffee.

Scripts Command Top Dollar

Scripts proved to be some of the most sought-after items, offering insights into the evolution of Lynch’s unique narratives. The highest-selling lot was a group of 11 scripts from his legendary unfinished film project, Ronnie Rocket: The Absurd Mystery of the Strange Forces of Existence, which fetched an astonishing $195,000. Lynch had worked on the film after Eraserhead but couldn’t secure financing, describing it as concerning “a three-foot tall guy with red hair and physical problems, and about 60-cycle alternating current electricity.” The scripts included drafts spanning from 1988 to 2012, with one notably annotated script from 1991.

Other significant script sales included:

A script from the production of the neo-noir Lost Highway (dated November 17, 1995), featuring revisions and a typed statement from Lynch defining the film (“A 21st Century Noir Horror Film… A terrifying ride down the lost highway”), which sold for $104,000.
A set of three scripts from Mulholland Drive, also collectively selling for $104,000. One script, dated December 23, 1998, included annotations likely for editor Mary Sweeney. Another bore a striking handwritten warning emphasizing secrecy: “We are very concerned about preserving the integrity of this screenplay. Please do not let anyone read this script – it is for your use only.”
Two second draft scripts for the Twin Peaks pilot episode, dated January 23, 1988, showing the original working title “Northwest Passage” crossed out and replaced with “Twin Peaks,” which went for $91,000.
Scripts from the Twin Peaks prequel film, Fire Walk With Me, encompassing various drafts and lists, selling for $78,000.
Three scripts from the crime romance Wild at Heart, fetching $58,500.

Iconic Props and Personal Artifacts

Beyond scripts, several props and personal items directly linked to Lynch’s most memorable works drew significant bids:

Lynch’s personalized red leather director’s chair, emblazoned with his name, a recognizable symbol of his presence on set, sold for $91,000. This chair had even been featured in a promotional tour visiting various Los Angeles locations prominent in his films.
Props from the iconic Mulholland Drive: Menus from the memorable Winkie’s diner sold for $7,800, and an original diptych portrait featuring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring as Betty and Rita fetched $16,250.
A large framed photograph of a nuclear bomb explosion, screen-matched to appear in Gordon Cole’s (played by Lynch) office in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), sold for $45,500. This photo served as clever foreshadowing for the pivotal eighth episode centered on the 1945 nuclear test, a key event in the series’ lore.
Stuffed and mounted deer heads, reflecting Lynch’s unique aesthetic, also sold for $16,250.

Lynch’s Passions Beyond Film

The auction also highlighted aspects of Lynch’s life outside of directing, most notably his deep affection for coffee, a theme often present in his films:

A Log Lady mug, sent to Lynch by an artist, brewed up an impressive $11,700.
His high-end coffee setup also fetched considerable sums: His La Marzocco GS/3 home espresso machine sold for $45,500, and his Mazzer Mini Electronic Commercial Espresso Grinder for $7,800.

Other unique personal items included a cube-shaped incense holder made by Lynch himself in 1974, which sold for $52,000, and his personal 35mm print of his groundbreaking debut feature Eraserhead* (1977), which also reached $52,000, reflecting the film’s enduring cult status and historical significance.

Catherine Williamson, managing director of entertainment at Julien’s Auctions, commented that each object provided “a window into Lynch’s surreal and uncompromising creative world,” adding that the “global response to the auction speaks not only to the cultural importance of his legacy, but to the profound admiration and reverence he inspires.”

The successful auction, drawing significant bids for items spanning his entire career and personal life, underscores the lasting impact and unique legacy of David Lynch on cinema and culture, with the proceeds directed to his estate.