“If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones,” is the slogan that has followed the iconic movie character since his inception in 1981. The character played by actor Harrison Ford, since its debut, has become a mainstay in the action and adventure genres, and along with the actor, two other mementos are instantly attachable to the character, his whip and fedora.
The latter fedora has followed the character since his earliest journeys, and in mid-August, one of the hats worn during the filming of the series was sold at auction. Specifically, the hat was used during the filming of The Temple of Doom (1984). It was sold by a movie specialist auction house, Propstore, at their Los Angeles auction on 15 August for US$630,000.
Acquired directly from the collection of Harrison Ford’s stunt double on the set of the film, the lot has gone down as the most expensive prop from the Indiana Jones series sold at auction, surpassing the fedora from the first movie by over US$100,000.
Lot 173⏐Herbert Johnson Hat Company, London⏐Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) Screen-and-Photo-Matched Fedora Also Worn by Stunt Performer Dean Ferrandini, on the set of The Temple of Doom
Circa: 1982/1983 (researched by The Value, based on when filming for the movie started)
7 ¼ or 59 European hat sizes. Alternatively, 33 x 30 x 15 cm.
Provenance:
- Herbert Johnson Hat Company, London
- The production team of The Temple of Doom
- Dean Ferrandini (Harrison Ford’s stunt double)
- Keefe Ferrandini, wife of Dean Feerandini
Estimate: US$250,000 - 500,000
Hammer Price: US$504,000
Sold: US$630,000
Auction House: Propstore Los Angeles
Sale: Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction: Los Angeles Summer 2024 (day 1)
Date: 15 August 2024
Created by the historic Herbert Johnson Hat Company for what was the second Indiana Jones film, the Federoa would be worn by both lead actor Harrison Ford and his stunt double Dean Ferrandini on set. Filming of the movie began in the spring of 1983, with development starting the year prior, placing the creation of the Fedora within that timespan.
Perhaps it may be surprising to some that not all the Fedora’s used in each of the movies were the same one given that it may have been simpler for the production company and followed with the lore of the series that it is the same hat that Indiana Jones wears in every appearance.
However, between all the hats, there are noticeable differences. In the first movie Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), the hat is the tallest, while the lot being presented was the shortest of all the hats. The Temple of Doom Hat can also be identified by its more tapered crown and possible Brazilian design inspiration.
Out of the original three movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade (1989), this hat from the second movie has the most unique design, with the third movie returning to a style more similar to the original 1981 film.
The bow on the left side of the hat with visible stitching across its outline
Aside from its design, there were changes made to the hat on the film set that differentiated it from other hats in the Indiana Jones series. During the filming of the movie in the hot climate of central Sri Lanka, the hat had to be fitted with foam padding for comfort. There is also some makeup residue left on the sweatband.
Additionally, it was subjected to quite a bit of action, so the iconic brown bow on the left side of the wearer’s head became loose at some point, requiring it to be hand-stitched back onto the hat, something that is visible both from the interior and exterior.
Otherwise, that hat keeps in line with the other hats of the Indiana Jones franchise. It is made from a sable-colored felt and has a thick, dark brown ribbon wrapped around its exterior and a leather sweatband. On the inside, there is stitching and labeling that denotes who made the hat, what size it is, and gold-stitched initials I&J for Indiana Jones.
A breakdown of the hat’s unique features along with the various details stitched into the leather sweatband on the inside of the fedora
A scene from the movie cross-referenced with the lot, confirming that it is indeed the same one worn by Harrison Ford, this evidence emphasizes the unique hand-stitching
A different scene from the movie confirms the lot is indeed the one from the movie, with this one showcasing the accentuated tapering on the crown unique to this specific film
While Harrison Ford was the iconic face of Indiana Jones and the one who wore the hat for the bulk of the filming of The Temple of Doom, it was also worn by Dean Farrandini (1945-2023). An American stunt actor, he worked on the film mainly to portray Indiana Jones’ stunts in the early parts of the movie with the plane crash and river raft scenes.
Farrandini would have also worked closely with the film's other two stars, Ke Huy Quan, who portrayed Short Round, Jones’ sidekick for the film, and Kate Capshaw, who played Willie Scott.
Farrandini would have an illustrious career as a stuntman in Hollywood, acting in movies and TV series such as Walker Texas Ranger (1993-1998), Spiderman (2002), and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). He was also an Olympic swimmer. Included in the lot is a letter of authenticity from Farrandini’s estate signed by his wife, as well as never-before-seen photos from the set and Farrandini wearing the fedora.
Farandini wearing his costume for The Temple of Doom, including the fedora, presumably during the filming of the river raft scene
This hat is not the first Indiana Jones fedora to be sold at auction. In 2018, Propstore London sold the fedora used during the first movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, for US$522,100. At the time, it was the most expensive item sold from the franchise, with this new record-breaking lot surpassing it by a considerable margin.
The fedora was not the only piece of memorabilia from the movie that was sold. A prop “Sankara Stone” was sold for US$31,500, as well as various sketches of the film, including production artwork and notes. One of these notes, which showed a fake map for the movie, sold for US$8,190.