The Body Model Used During a Famous Scene in E.T. Is Heading to AuctionCreated by Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi, the three-foot-tall prop can be seen in the film hiding among stuffed animals in 10-year-old Elliotts closet The three-foot-tall model has an aluminum skeleton coveredin latex, foam, straw, acrylic paint and adhesive. Sotheby'sFans of Steven SpielbergsE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial have a chance to own an important prop used in the beloved 1982 science fiction film.Abody model of E.T.the friendly brown alien who befriends a young boy after being left behind on Earthis heading to the auction block. Auction organizers expect it to fetch up to $900,000 during Sothebys There Are Such Things: 20th-Century Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy on Screen sale.The three-foot-tall body model was used during one of the movies most iconic scenes, in which the orphaned extraterrestrial hides among stuffed animals in the closet of 10-year-old Elliott (played byHenry Thomas). With his eyes wide, E.T. sits silently among a pile of toys to avoid being detected by Elliotts mother (played byDee Wallace).The model consists of an aluminum frame covered in latex, foam, straw, acrylic paint and adhesive, all attached to a metal base. Sothebys says the models wear is consistent with its age and production use.It belongs to the estate ofCarlo Rambaldi, the Academy Award-winning Italian special effects artist who worked on E.T., as well as King Kong, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Alien and many other sci-fi films.Rambaldi died in 2012, but his family held onto the E.T. body model and other items from his storied special effects career. Sothebys is also offering up several of Rambaldissketches of E.T., ananimatronic reproduction he made of the aliens left eye and two sand worms he created for the 1984 film Dune.Carlo Rambaldi Special Effects Artist interview from the 1980'sWatch on We hope that the artifacts being offered will bring immense joy to those who will cherish them in the years to come, just as they have brought great emotions to my family and shaped the magic of my childhood, says Rambaldis daughter, Daniela Rambaldi, in a statement. These iconic pieces hold a special place in our hearts, and it is our sincere wish that they continue to inspire and captivate future generations.While writing the screenplay for E.T., Melissa Mathison intentionally omitted any mention of the lovable aliens physical characteristics, according to Sothebys. That meant it was up to Spielberg and Rambaldi to determine the creatures aesthetic. They drew inspiration from Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and Carl Sandburg, as well as a painting Rambaldi had made in 1952 titled Women of the Delta. Rambaldi also studied his familys Himalayan cat, Kika.I remember saying to Carlo, heres some pictures of Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway and Carl Sandburg. I love their eyes, Spielberg said in a 1996 documentary, per Popular Sciences Andrew Paul. Can we make E.T.s eyes as frivolous, and also wizened and as sad, as those three icons?Rambaldi and four assistants worked long hours to create multiple body models of E.T. to be used during filming, includinganimatronic versions that could move and talk.Carlo Rambaldi was E.T.s Geppetto, Spielberg said in a statement after Rambaldis death, per the New York Times Daniel E. Slotnik.The film racked up numerous accolades, includingfour Academy Awards in 1983. At one point, it was thehighest-grossing movie ever made. Rambaldi played a big role in the movies success, thanks to his meticulous craftsmanship in bringing the title character to life, says Cassandra Hatton, Sothebys vice chairman of science and natural history, in a statement.This model embodies the artistry of an era before CGI took hold, a nostalgic and iconic piece of Hollywood history as captivating as the stories themselves, she adds.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.